Courtesy of Dennis O'Donnell, Athletics Communications Director
Two men’s soccer games were played at Fauver Stadium this past weekend. Both had the Yellowjackets taking on a dangerous University Athletic Association foe, and both were thrilling displays of defensive prowess for the visiting and home teams alike — so much so that they both ended in 1-0 scores.
UR was on the winning side of that tally on Friday, Oct. 14, when the team faced Carnegie Mellon University. The home team dominated possession for most of the first half, keeping the ball in the Tartans’ side of the field and keeping Carnegie Mellon’s defense on its toes.
Freshman forward Alex Swanger headed a centered ball at net just three minutes into the game, but Tartans’ goalie Jacob Rice managed to make the save. Senior midfielder Max Eberhardt had perhaps an even better opportunity at scoring in the 36th minute, as he broke away from the visitors’ defense and sprinted with the ball toward goal. Ebearhardt fired, but his shot flew over the net and the teams entered the half tied, 0-0.
Tartan Nick Gianopoulos took down Swanger in the 53rd minute, when the UR wing attempted to pull down a lob in Carnegie Mellon’s box. The referee levied a yellow card against Gianopoulos and awarded the Yellowjackets a penalty kick, which junior Jakob Seidlitz successfully converted to put his team on top. The goal was Seidlitz’s third of the year and second goal on a penalty kick.
The rest of the half was relatively quiet, with only a late-game scare courtesy of CMU’s Alex Abedian, whose shot on diving UR junior goalkeeper Scott Garfing went just wide. Garfing made three saves on the night to earn the shutout.
The home team wasn’t quite so lucky on Sunday, as the roles were reversed and the Yellowjackets couldn’t answer an early first-half Emory goal, losing 1-0.
The Eagles’ Alex Scott headed a corner kick from teammate David Garofalo into the UR net just 11 minutes into the game to put Emory ahead to stay.
In a great opportunity to equalize just minutes later, Swanger rushed toward net, where he eyed an incoming lofted ball in the box. Emory goalie Andrew Goldblum read the play, however, and rushed out of goal to intercept the oncoming airborne pass before Swanger had a chance to make contact.
Senior midfielder Alex Osuch made one last push for the Yellowjackets with just over two minutes to play. Osuch attempted to head a ball crossed from right wing into the net, but his effort to find the lower left corner of the Emory net was barely off, as his header went just wide of the net.
UR has its last regular season home game against Kean State on Sunday, Oct. 23, before wrapping up the regular season with three road games against UAA foes.
Bernstein is a member of the class of 2014.
