Gophers Score Late to Edge Eagles

HUNTINGDON, Pa.-The Juniata men's soccer team dropped a heart breaker to Goucher, 3-2, Saturday afternoon at Gibbel Stadium.

A minute and half into the game, Jacob Grove (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin HS) came down the right side and crossed the ball. Bass Diakhoumpa (Dakar, Senegal/Mercersburg Academy) controlled it and fired it into the top left corner to put JC in the lead. 

The Gophers controlled portions of the next 18 minutes as they looked for an equalizer. In the nineteenth minute, Goucher found an equalizer on a corner via a header at the back post. There were not many shooting opportunities in the next 20 minutes, with Henry Doherty's (Brunswick, Maine / Brunswick) header being the only one.

In the 39^th minute, Mark Wolf (Lebanon, Pa. / Cedar Crest) found Matt Matylewicz (York, Pa. / Central York) in the box and he calmly put it away to put JC up 2-1.

The Eagles went into the half up, 2-1. The teams were tied with three shots apiece, while the visiting Gophers had two corners to the Eagles one. 

Five minutes into the second half, Diakhoumpa fired a shot on frame that the Goucher keeper managed to deny. 

The Gophers looked dangerous and in the 64^th minute, Jacob Owings (Hanover, Pa. / Littlestown) made diving save to preserve the lead. Two minutes later however, Goucher managed to score to tie things up at 2-2. 

Owings had to deny two more shots over the next 20 minutes as the Gophers continued to attack. In the 82^nd minute, Owings managed to deny the first shot but the Gophers were first to the loose ball and poked it in to make it 3-2. 

Juniata had two chances in the final minute, with Diakhoumpa running on to a through ball but sending his shot just wide right of the frame. Jacob Grove's (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin HS) final shot was saved by the keeper.

Goucher held a 14-5 edge in shots in the second half. 

Juniata returns to action at Penn College, Wednesday at 7:00.