LHU Men’s Soccer drops hard-fought home opener
LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Lock Haven men’s soccer team (0-1-1) put together a strong 90 minutes of play, but in the end visiting Mercyhurst (3-0) edged out the host Bald Eagles, 1-0, in The Haven’s 2023 home opener.
The Lock Haven defensive unit was organized and balanced from the start and the attack pressed early, but the Bald Eagles couldn’t sneak one home for a goal.
Leading the way for Lock Haven was goalkeeper Brady Freiwald (Altoona, Pa./Altoona), who was absolutely spectacular.
Freiwald finished with four saves including several back-to-back diving point-blank stops in the first half.
The Lakers scored the only goal of the contest in the 36th minute. Guilherme de Lima Cunha knocked home a long shot that deflected in at the near post.
In the second half the Bald Eagles pushed and pushed and controlled every aspect of the match in the final 15-plus minutes.
Despite the relentless Haven pressure, the home team just couldn’t find the tying tally.
Notable individual efforts came from Jimmy Pombor (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) and Davis Dull (Altoona, Pa./Blair County Christian School). Dull fired off a team-high four shots with two coming on goal. Tom Pombor (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) added a shot on goal.
Mercyhurst, a perennial Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) power, entered the season nationally ranked and the Lakers were listed among the teams receiving votes this week, and fell just outside the top-25 in the national poll. With the win, the visitors improved to 3-0.
UP NEXT:
Lock Haven will hit the road again for a Saturday, Sept. 9 non-conference match at D’Youville (3 p.m.).
