FROSTBURG, Md. - West Liberty scored three goals in the first half and added another early in the second as it outlasted Frostburg 4-2 in MEC action, Wednesday afternoon.
Â
The loss drops the Bobcats to 6-7-1 overall, 5-6-1 in the league and ends a three-game winning streak. Meanwhile, WL wins for just the second team this season and is now 2-11-1 overall and 2-9-1 in the conference.Â
Â
Mikel Ubeda scored twice in the opening half as the Hilltoppers built their lead to 3-2 at the break.Â
Â
The Hilltoppers scored in the 11th minute when Ubeda connected on a high shot for the 1-0 lead.Â
Â
The Bobcats answered with back-to-back goals at 26:21 and again at 28:01. FSU's first goal came via penalty kick as West Liberty was whistled for a foul just in front of its own goal. Sophomore Jose Rodriguez took the free kick and slipped a shot just inside the left post past a diving Jorn Hocter.Â
Â
Less than two minutes later, junior Randy Putnam corralled a loose back inside the 18 and fired a right foot towards the right corner of the net for Frostburg's second goal and a 2-1 lead.Â
Â
The visitors rebounded with two more goals in the first 45 minutes of play. Timothe TranVan found Zak Campbell at 30:22 and Ubeda scored for the second time at 34:11 for the 3-2 lead.Â
Â
West Liberty's first and third goals came off corner kicks as the Hilltoppers held a 5-2 advantage on corners in the first half.Â
Â
The Hilltoppers scored the first goal of the second period as they scored less than five minutes into action when Bernardo Vilchis scored on a low shot for the 4-2 advantage.Â
West Liberty held a narrow 17-13 lead in shot on the afternoon Â
Â
Assal notched five saves in the loss including a pair of diving saves in the first stanza. In the closing minutes of the game, Assal made a diving save to his right that stopped WL from adding to its lead.Â
Â
Frostburg had two chances to score around the four-minute mark. Senior Blake Geatz had a header from inside the six-yard box saved by Hocter, while senior Alla Tesfu had a header that sailed wide just seconds later.Â
Â
The Bobcats return to action on Saturday when they host Notre Dame at 3:30 pm.
Â