By Michael Herkin, Staff Writer
The Susquehanna University men’s soccer team picked up a 1-0 win over Moravian College on Saturday Oct. 28 at Sassafras Field in Selinsgrove.
Senior forward Ryan Cronin scored the game-winning goal, and with the win, the River Hawks have officially clinched the fourth and final spot in the Landmark Conference Tournament.
Early on, the game remained scoreless, but Susquehanna was outshot 13-4 in the first half. Freshman goalkeeper Casey Hoover kept the River Hawks in the game, however, as he made seven saves throughout the game to earn a shutout victory. The win marked his third of the season.
“We have called on Casey now to play in three games this season and he/we won all three and he/we haven’t been scored on in those three games either,” head coach Jim Findlay said. “He has done a great job in managing all three games so far. A hard task for a freshman, especially in a game as important as yesterday’s.”
As the game continued on, momentum began to land in Susquehanna’s favor. In the second half, the River Hawks outshot the Greyhounds nine to four. In the 74th minute, freshman Dakota Dobrovich-Fago crossed a ball to Cronin, who was able to score inside the box to give his team the lead for good.
Moravian was unable to answer, as Susquehanna took home the victory. The River Hawks will now prepare to take on top-seeded Drew at Drew University on Wednesday Nov. 1 at 7 p.m in the Landmark Conference semi-finals.
Drew is the top seed in the Landmark Conference tournament and is currently undefeated on the season with an 18-0-1 record and are 7-0 in conference play this season.
“Well, obviously we are the underdog in this one but that doesn’t matter to us,” Findlay said. “It’s now a one game season. Win and move on to the Championship game. The way I see it the pressure is all on Drew in this next game. I’m hopeful our guys will rise to the occasion.”
Despite the enthusiasm, Susquehanna was not able to pull off the upset, and lost to the top-ranked Rangers 4-0.
The tenth-ranked Rangers echoed their performance against the River Hawks earlier in the season, when they also won 4-0.
With the win, the Rangers advanced to their first conference championship since the 2007 season.
Goalkeeper Jason Adamo recorded his tenth shutout of the season in the win.
Drew will host second-seeded Elizabethtown in the Landmark Conference Championship on Saturday, Nov.4at2p.m.
Susquehanna’s goalkeeper Matt Ellingworth made eight saves in the loss.
The Rangers beat the Blue Jays the last time the two teams met by a 6-0 final score.