Millersville, Pa. – Senior
Jaxson Burns scored the lone goal and lifted the Millersville University men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Lock Haven on Wednesday night. The game was delayed at the start for an hour and a half due to lightning and heavy rain.
The Marauders earned their first conference win of the season and improve to 3-2-4. The Bald Eagles fall to 4-5-1 and 2-3 in the conference.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
• The Marauders struck first in the goals column.
Nicholas Leinbach cut across the top of the box and laid a pass to
Jaxson Burns who was sprinting to the goal and shot it in the back left side of the net. The Marauders led 1-0 in the 48th minute.
• In the 68th minute, a foul was called on Millersville inside the box and Lock Haven was awarded a free kick two feet on the right side of the goalie's box with all of the Marauders huddled up in net to prevent the goal.
• Junior
Jacob Gosselin nearly scored in the 89th minute from the top of the defensive line. A pass over the defense had Gosselin over the line and he was able to get a shot off with the goalie out of the box, but he was denied by a Bald Eagle defender.
• Millersville began the game with an offensive mindset in which they fired off six shots. Senior
Chase Flickinger kicked a lob shot off a free kick opportunity from 15 yards away, but no one was able to find the back of the net.
HEAD COACH STEVE WIDDOWSON QUOTES
• "Great win and one that was very much needed. We showed some great resiliency to keep the shutout, but I think that came from the recent experiences we have had in games. Even though we haven't gotten good results, those games prepared us for this type of win."
• "The delay didn't really affect us much. We hadn't started warm up yet so it was just a case of staying relaxed, seeing out the delay then preparing ourselves correctly once we got out on the field."
• "It was a good goal. We had some crisp attacking play in the build up to the goal then Jaxson stepped up to finish it with authority. It was a very pleasing goal because it's stuff we have been working on as a team plus Jaxson deserved it as reward for the effort he put in tonight."
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
• Burns captured his third goal of the season while
Nicholas Leinbach earned his first point of the season with the lone assist.
• Four Marauders,
McClain Smith,
Kyle Finsterbush, Flickinger and
Spencer Shortt, recorded two shots each.
• Junior goalkeeper
Darian McCauley earned his second shutout of the season while facing one shot. McCauley captured his 16th shutout of his career, eight away from the all-time record.
NOTES
• Millersville led the shots category in the first half, 6-1. The Marauders did not allow the Bald Eagles to have a corner kick in the first half.
• The score was lopsided last year as the Bald Eagles won with a score of 1-0.
UP NEXT
• The Marauders travel across the state to battle California (Pa.) on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 2:30 p.m.