Box Score

Millersville, Pa. – Sophomore Pat Baffuto found the back of the net twice in the second half as the No. 6 Millersville men's soccer team rallied from a 2-1 halftime deficit to post a 4-3 win in its home and season opening game at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium on Friday night.

Penn Manor graduate and Millersville native Matt Wilson broke through with the Marauders (1-0) opening goal just 8:31 into the game. Wilson was able to corral a pass from Kyle Loughlin just outside the box, before beating a defender and then keeper Charles Custer for a 1-0 lead. Millersville carried a majority of the play in the early stages of the game, but it was Philadelphia (0-1) which got the next goal. After receiving a pass from Kristoffer Perez, Svetozar Gladic fired a high arcing shot over the outstretched arms of Matt Langione to tie the game.

The Rams would then stun the drenched home crowd when they took a 2-1 lead in the 38th minute, as Travis Lobb's free kick had eyes and wound up in Langione's net.

Baffuto banked his first of the night just over three minutes into the second half off a feed from Dan Prian. Baffuto collected the ball and scored on the volley to make it 2-2. Freshman Adam Keller would then give the Marauders the lead in the 53rd minute. Keller's first career collegiate goal was of the quirky variety. After crossing a ball from well outside the 18, miscommunication and a screen of the goalie allowed the ball to find the far right corner of the net.

Baffuto used his head to notch his second of the night. Loughlin, one of the team's leaders in assists and points in 2008, sent a beautiful cross right to the forehead of Baffuto, who deposited it into the goal for a 4-2 Millersville lead. Philadelphia would go a man down due to a red card in the 67th minute, but the Rams kept fighting. The visitors cut the deficit to one when Wojciech Sliwinksi deflected in a Ryan Purnell free kick at 81:48.

With the outcome still very much in doubt, Millersville was able to kill the clock and control possession in the late going en route to its 10th season opening win in the last 13 seasons. The Marauders are 10-0-3 in openers dating back to 1997 and now 2-0-1 in season debuts under head coach Steve Widdowson.

Millersville emerged in a game hampered by downpours and 36 total fouls (five cards given). The Black and Gold now gets ready for a big road matchup in just its second game of the season. Millersville travels to No. 19 East Stroudsburg on Wednesday evening for its PSAC Eastern Division opener. Game time is set for 7 p.m.