By Andrew Porzio, Staff Writer
In an extremely physical game for the River Hawks Men’s Soccer team, sophomore midfielder Max Maidenberg scored the only goal as Susquehanna fell 3-1 to the visiting Stockton team.
Stockton got on the board with just ten minutes left in the first half when junior mid-fielder Eucario Solano beat Susquehanna goalkeeper Matt Ellingworth with a shot that just tucked into the bottom corner of the goal.
Less than three minutes later, the Ospreys got on the board again to push the score to 2-0 heading into halftime.
Stockton scored again early in the second half to increase the lead to 3-0 before Maidenberg scored the lone tally for Susquehanna to make the final score 3-1 in favor of the op- posing team, the Ospreys.
It was a very physical game from start to finish as the official handed out five total cards in the game, including three penalty red cards.
Susquehanna’s senior defenseman Brennan Colby received a red card in the first half for allegedly elbowing a Stockton defender before a corner kick and freshman midfielder Dakota Dobrovich-Fago received a red card in 76th minute. Stockton’s Drew Ruble also received a red for his involvement in an on-field scuffle between players from both teams. Both players were suspended one game as a result of the encounter.
Maidenberg led the River Hawks in shots on the day with two and Ellingworth led the team in saves with two. Susquehanna dropped to 1-3 after the loss and Stockton improved to 4-0.
The River Hawks also played a non-conference game on Sunday, Sept. 10 against Lebanon Valley, where they finished in a 1-1 tie.
Susquehanna held off a strong attack from Lebanon Valley, who put twice as many shots on goal and had eight more corner kicks than the River Hawks.
Ellingworth started in goal for Susquehanna and finished the game with seven saves.
Senior forward Ryan Cronin led the team in shots on goal with four.
Sophomore forward Joey Dell’Estate scored the first goal for the River Hawks after putting in a header off of a corner kick from Maidenberg in the 31st minute to give the River Hawks a 1-0 lead. The goal was also the first on the season for Dell’Estate.
Lebanon Valley then finally got back on the board in the 70th minute with a goal from Austin Freeman off of an assist from Kazuya Hirano. The goal was also Freeman’s first goal of the season.
The game would eventually go into two overtimes before ending in the draw.
Lebanon Valley had the only shot on goal in the first overtime, but Ellingworth made the save and the game would go into the second and final overtime.
In the second overtime, Lebanon Valley once again came out firing, but the Susquehanna defense was able to hold on to finish the game with a 1-1 tie.
Freeman had a chance to add his second goal of the game and win the game for Lebanon Valley, but once again Ellingworth came up with the save in the 106th minute.
Susquehanna will return to action on Sept. 16 where they go on the road to face Arcadia. Game time is 12 p.m.
