PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Frostburg State men's soccer team dropped its first game of the year at Point Park on Sunday by a final score of 2-1.
The first half saw plenty of action from both sides, with three total goals and 15 shots. Frostburg put the pressure on early, with sophomore Nate Kennedy putting a shot on goal in the eighth minute, followed by classmate Frank Stare having a shot blocked and senior Brian Gomez blazing one wide. The early momentum quickly flipped when the Pioneers scored the opening goal, as Lander Barrio Gonzlaez fed a pass through the backline into the path of Hector Moreno, who chipped past graduate Josiah Emerson for the lead.
Point Park kept up their pressure, putting another pair of shots off target before doubling their advantage 16 minutes later. After a shot was blocked out for a corner, PPU took it quickly, with Alejandro Vega Arteaga curling all the way from outside the box into the back of the net for a 2-0 score. From that point, the Bobcats sparked into action, as five minutes later they earned a free kick at the top of the box, which sophomore Christ Fopossi curled perfeclty into the top right corner to make things 2-1.
The Pioneers had another pair of chances in the next two minutes but both went wide of the mark. With just under seven minutes left in the half, the Bobcats got a chance to tie the game, as freshman Abdullah Soulemana was fouled from behind on a header in the box for a penalty kick. Graduate Mateo Cuadros stepped up to take it but was denied by keeper Anthony Fusay, who dove the right way to preserve his team's lead. Cuadros then had a free kick denied at the wall and PPU put the final effort of the half wide.Â
It took nearly 10 minutes to see the first effort of the second half, with Emerson making a comfortable save on a shot from distance. Two minutes later, Fopossi whipped in a free kick that was met by Soulemana to find Stare at the back post, but his goal-bound effort was blocked on the line and cleared away. The next 20 minutes featured just two Pioneer efforts going wide, then Fusay made a double save on an initial shot from senior Anthony Diaz and the follow-up from Kennedy.
PPU then put another shot high, as the final three minutes provided chaos with yellow and red cards. Both sides had a player ejected, as in the midst, Point Park put one shot wide while graduate Kevin Garcia-Torres sent one over the bar. The Pioneers played the final 30 seconds down another player but were able to hold on for the 2-1 victory.Â
Frostburg suffered its first loss of the season and moves to 4-1-2 overall, while Point Park improves to 3-3-2. The Bobcats will next host Salem (WV) on Wednesday, September 23 for a 7 p.m. kickoff. For more information, please visit frostburgsports.com.
