DALLAS, PA (September 1, 2022) – The Susquehanna University Men's Soccer team hit the road for their season opener on Thursday afternoon, traveling to face non-conference opponent Misericordia University. In a game that saw very even outcomes statistically, Misericordia would ultimately manage to squeak out a 2-1 victory, despite a persistent effort from the River Hawks to find an equalizer in the second half.
The match would start as a relatively even affair, with the teams trading possession as they searched for openings. Misericordia would see two early attacks stymied by offsides calls, while the teams traded fouls in the first few minutes as well. The breakthrough came for the River Hawks first, when on the first shot of the game after fifteen minutes of play, Adrian Dilascio buried a shot in the bottom left corner after receiving a good pass into the box from Ben Sweeney. Pressure would continue to be applied by both teams, with Sweeney putting a shot on goal three minutes later, before Misericordia began to take control of the momentum in an effort to equalize.
The next four shots would come from the Cougars, with no response from the River Hawks' offense. The defense would withstand the pressure though, preventing Misericordia from putting a shot on goalkeeper Gerrit Stech's frame. SU would take their 1-0 lead into halftime.
Susquehanna would come out firing in the second half, looking to add some insurance to their lead. They would fire off three shots in short succession, Walter Wyatt forcing a save from the Cougars' keeper before Dilascio twice came close but missed the frame and a chance at a scoring brace.
The equalizer came for the Cougars in the 59th minute, and that would be key for a momentum shift in their favor for the next few minutes of play. They would pepper the goal, forcing two saves from Stech within a ten-minute stretch. Misericordia would take their first lead with the ultimately decisive goal in the 67th minute, scoring a second time and making that pressure pay.
SU would be galvanized by falling behind, firing three unanswered shots in the waning minutes of the second half and forcing multiple corner kicks. However, the Cougars withstood the onslaught and took the win.
The River Hawks will likely feel some disappointment in losing the halftime lead, but produced some strong attacking play, totaling eight shots with three on frame, six total corner kicks, and forcing the Cougars to commit eight fouls. SU will have another chance to earn their first win of the season on Sunday, September 4, as they travel to Oneonta, NY to face Hartwick College in a non-conference matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
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--RIVER HAWKS--
