Box Score Box Score
SELINSGROVE, Pa. – In a well-played match on both sides, Susquehanna men's soccer left Tuesday evening with the victory, defeating Landmark Conference foe Juniata 1-0 behind a late second half score from senior midfielder Andrew Murphy (Natick, Mass. / Natick).
The goal occurred in the 86th minute off a corner kick as sophomore midfielder Samuel Tana (Baldwin, Md. / St. Paul's) settled the ball and sent a pass into the box, finding Murphy who buried the shot past Juniata's keeper for the lone goal of the match and giving SU the key conference win.
The Crusaders (10-4-1, 4-2 Landmark) had several scoring chances before the goal, as junior Kyle Semmel (Burlington Township, N.J. / Holy Cross) recorded four shots in a three-minute span, but could not find the back of the net.
The first half of action started out in favor of Juniata (11-3-2, 2-1-1 Landmark) as the Eagles registered three shots in the first 11 minutes of play.
Again, the second period began with the Eagles notching three shots in the opening five minutes before SU would start to counter. Murphy blasted a pair of shots in the 63rd minute as Juniata freshman keeper Blaine Barsch made a critical save.
The Crusaders outshot the Eagles 13-6 in the second half and finally broke the scoreless contest with Murphy's game-winning goal, his ninth of the year and 21st of his career. Murphy, the reigning Landmark Conference Offensive Player of the Week, and Semmel led the attack with four shots apiece.
Senior Matt Salsman (Selinsgrove, Pa. / Selinsgrove Area) made several key stops in net for SU, finishing the evening with three saves. With the shutout, Salsman moves within one clean sheet of tying Austin Kelsey for the most in program history with 17.
With the victory the Crusaders improve to 16-0 against Juniata since 1998, including a 7-0 mark in Landmark action.
The Crusaders head to Goucher on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 3:30 p.m. for the regular season Landmark Conference finale.
