The Point Park men’s soccer team earned its first conference win at home against the West Liberty Hilltoppers on Sept. 21 at Highmark Stadium. With a final score of 2-1, the Pioneers leave with a record of 3-2-1 and West Liberty with 2-3-1.
“We came out much better than we have in the last three games,” Coach Cameron Williams said. “I’m very happy with the way we played today.”
The first goal wasn’t scored until the second half, while the first half was a fight for full possession alongside great saves by both goalkeepers.
The Point Park starters were as follows: #1 David Ali, #2 Adel Bouriah, #3 Edward Bowers, #5 Baptiste Gaume, #6 Finn Syson, #7 Javier Morejon, #9 Moritz Sarfert, #12 Dominic Thieler, #20 Bruno Lancellotti, #23 Alexis Lamontagne and #30 Fridolin Gerfrorer.
The first half started with the Pioneers in possession of the ball, but the match got intense fast with #10 Zachary Forehand from the Hilltoppers rushing to take control of the ball.
Throughout the first half, though the teams may not have scored, there were many aggressive player movements for possession of the ball. West Liberty and Point Park fought tooth and nail to try and score the first goal, but that wouldn’t happen until the second half.
By the end of the first half, the Pioneers had nine shots, three saves, three corner kicks, 12 fouls and one yellow card.
The players subbed in for Point Park in the second half were: #4 Alejandro Perez and #10 Cheroky Briard.
The second half started off strong with intense attacks from West Liberty alongside impressive saves from the Pioneers’ goalie, Ali. After earnest attempts by Point Park to score first, the Hilltoppers took the first goal at the 54-minute mark after a series of fierce blocks and passes. Jasper Newton of West Liberty scored the first goal with an assist from Forehand.
The Pioneers scored its first goal at the 55-minute mark, after the Hilltoppers were yellow carded. This awarded Morejon a penalty kick that provided an assist to Lancellotti for his first goal of the season.
The game-winning goal came at the 67-minute mark, after an impressive pass from Ali that surpassed the center circle. The ball was retrieved by Sarfert, who then assisted #13 Ruben Kuypers with his second goal of the season.
The rest of the game was a fight for possession, but the Hilltoppers failed to gain another goal, leaving the final score of the match to be a 2-1 win for Point Park.
“Being able to move the ball at a good pace, good rate,” Williams said. “…be able to find the angles, to get in behind the teams, that is what separates us.”
At the end of the second half the Pioneers combined for 17 shots, seven saves, five corner kicks, 20 fouls and four yellow cards.
“It’s a pleasure to play today at Point Park,” Captain David Ali said. “We [need to] keep going like that to win and win and win.”
The Point Park Pioneers go on to play against MEC opponent West Virginia Wesleyan at home on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
