Jerry ZurekMen’s soccer continued their season by adding one win and two losses, putting their overall record as 2-10-2 and their PAC record as 0-5. The team faced Widener, Gwynedd-Mercy and Rutgers-Camden.
On Sept. 27, the men traveled to Widener to add one more win to their quaking season. Brent Benner, No. 9 forward, put the only goal on the scoreboard for the day for a final score of 1-0. Dave Malosiecki, No. 10 midfielder, who assisted Benner’s goal, said the game added a boost of confidence to the Cavalier spirit.
The boost came at an opportune time because the men were preparing for their homecoming game on Oct. 1, against Gwynedd-Mercy, which ended in a 3-1 Cavalier defeat.
Gwynedd-Mercy scored first, 25 minutes into the game. The next big play was made by goalkeeper, Colin Hinkelmon, who made a brilliant save off of a Gwynedd-Mercy breakaway. The only Cavalier homecoming goal came 30 minutes into the second half and was put away by Benner, with Joe Rotan on the assist. Gwynedd-Mercy finished the game in the last seven minutes of the game by hitting the back of the net twice to make the final score 3-1.
There was much anticipation leading up to this match because of last year’s memorable brawl. The game was a struggle for both sides and frustration came to a head when both teams cleared the benches in a fight. The game ended in an overtime, scoreless tie.
Barry Magagna, No. 2 midfielder, remembered the game well and said, “It will be a very physical game. We’ve been rivals since last year when we cleared the benches, especially because we should have won that game.”
Several Cavaliers had predicted that this year’s game would have only one goal because of the scoreless tie last year.
Matt Moore said, “We want to win at home, in front of our fans.”
Brad Rink said, “Alumni are going to be there, and we want to show them that our record isn’t indicative of how we play.”
Rink, however, did not get the chance to step onto the field. He herniated two disks in his lower back, and it put him out of play indefinitely.
This was just one more injury that the Cavs did not need. Sam Robinson was out because of a sprained MCL, despite his best effort and intentions of being ready for homecoming.
The Cavaliers suffered more injuries during the Gwynedd-Mercy game. Thirty minutes into the game, Magagna came off the field bleeding, after a collision with a Gwynedd shoulder while landing after a header.
Captain Ian MacDonald fractured his right shin from the stress of the season. MacDonald is out for eight weeks, and therefore, he ended his senior season.
Defender, No. 13 Joseph Blaney, collided with goalie Hinkelmon and bruised his hip and injured his back, putting him on the bench with an icepack for the rest of the game. He was seen on crutches after the game. Blaney didn’t blame Hinkelmon at all for the injury and said in jest, “He’s a freshman, they make mistakes.”
Blaney was seen back on the field Oct. 6, in the game against Lycoming in Cavalier country. Robinson also came back wearing a knee brace.
Lycoming came out strong, scoring early in the game. Joe Pusateri scored off of an assist from Zach Tanner, with a header from a throw-in. Another Lycoming goal came next from No. 17, Jeff Kocher, assisted by Ryan Wertz from a corner kick, making the score 0-2. However, the game was far from over.
Joe Rotan, No. 4 forward, came out from the half with a vengeance, scoring for the Cavaliers on a penalty kick. Benner finished a scramble near the left post with a goal, tying up the game and getting the Cavalier fans onto their feet with only four minutes left.
The game was sent into overtime, but the Lycoming Warriors finished the game quickly. Tanner put one in, off of a header with an assist by Matt Frey on a corner kick. The final score was 3-2, Warriors.
Two yellow cards were handed out to Cavaliers No. 13 Blaney and to No. 14 E.J. Gilchrist. This was Gilchrist’s fifth yellow card of the season, and therefore, he had to sit on the bench for the team’s next game against Rutgers-Camden. Lycoming also took home one yellow card to No. 25 Joe Pusateri early in the game.
Saturday, Oct. 8, the men traveled to Rutgers-Camden for the opposition’s homecoming. Flooding rains threatened the game all day.
Brent Benner, No. 9 forward, scored for the Cavaliers in the first half after receiving a pass from Ryan Kirby, No. 28 forward. This was Benner’s forth game to score a goal for Cabrini. The goal gave the team a 1-0 lead at the end of the first half.
Three minutes into the second half Rutgers-Camden tied up the game when Baris Uslu hit the back of the net. The weather halted play for 15 minutes while water was removed from one submerged section of the field.
Uslu struck again after the break to give Rutgers-Camden the lead over Cabrini. This was the start of a three-goal, five-minute onslaught from Rutgers-Camden. The next two goals, which sealed the deal for Cabrini, were put away by Devin Burgin and Rob Gambino.
The scoreboard shorted-out, and the referee was forced to call the drenching match, with under three minutes to go.
The Cavaliers continue their season with little hope of recovering from so many losses. They face Marywood, Ursinus and Immaculata during the week of Oct. 10.
Posted to the web by Brian Coary
