MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's men's soccer team gave No. 9 Franklin & Marshall all it could handle before ultimately falling short in an action-packed 4-2 setback on Wednesday night, Sept. 13.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn State Harrisburg (1-3-1) scored first and hung with the nationally-ranked and undefeated Diplomats (5-0) until the game's final 11 minutes but F&M's second-half onslaught proved too much for the Lions to overcome on Wednesday night.
The home team struck first when a Luke Myers throw in found the head of Jaden Longdon who flicked the ball to a plunging Alex Afata for the game's first score in the 21st minute. The timely insertion proved the only marker of the opening half.
The Lions guarded the advantage into the second half but F&M upped the aggression and was eventually rewarded when Koa Kaliebe netted the equalizer in the 64th minute. The visitors struck again and pulled ahead when Philip Monos connected on an attempt eight minutes later.
Penn State Harrisburg regrouped and answered right back when a Diplomat foul set up Marc Rodgers with a free kick from just outside the F&M box that Ethan Cortes was able to head home to draw the Lions even in the 77th minute.
But in the blink of an eye, Franklin & Marshall took back the advantage when Oscar Horowitz netted the first of his two goals less than two minutes after Penn State Harrisburg buried the equalizer. Horowitz added an insurance score in the 85th minute to put things out of reach and seal the victory for the nation's ninth-ranked team.
NOTABLES
- F&M is the first nationally-ranked opponent Penn State Harrisburg faced this season.
- The Lions held a 14-to-11 advantage in total shots but the Diplomats finished with an 11-to-8 edge in shots on goal.
- Franklin & Marshall earned 10 corner kicks. Penn State Harrisburg managed five.
- Goals for Afata and Cortes were the first of the season for each player.
- Hossam Aly made seven saves in goal for the Lions.
- F&M goalkeeper Nolan Booth made six stops to earn the victory.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions travel to NYU for a primetime matchup on Saturday night.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.