Box Score
DOVER, Del. – As the Neumann men's soccer team entered the game, it was their first game on the road, in which Wesley was a school that they hadn't beaten in Dover, Del. The Knights walked off the turf with a 2-1 result and climbed back to .500 with a 2-2 record Wednesday evening.
The Knights started off sluggish conceding early possession to the Wolverines. The first half was mostly played between the 18 yard boxes. The best chance of the first half came off a shot ripped from 35 yards out from Shawn Kee. Kee struck a half volley that nearly knocked off the leather of the ball, rather thumping fellow teammate, Michael Atallian square on his back as the ball was well on its way to the corner of the goal.
The Wolverines had a free kick 25 yards from goal 35 minutes into the game. Bob Mastrillo set up his wall and the wall blocked the shot. The referee awarded another free kick because the Knights encroached and this time Wesley played the perfect free kick destined for the upper left hand corner. Mastrillo was able to get a good look at the ball and managed to get his fingers behind the ball to make the save.
In only 1:37 into the second half, Wesley earned a penalty kick. It was a cool finish to put Wesley ahead 1-0. The goal was a defining moment as Neumann lifted their spirits and play to another level. Andy Attah made a run into the penalty box eluding a defender and skipping past. The defender made a clumsy challenge, missing the ball and taking Attah down in the box. Andrew Leissing stepped up to finish the penalty kick in the 50th minute.
“I was proud of the quick response from the boys, it would have been easy to get our heads down, but perseverance prevailed,” stated coach Sloan.
As the game became more physical with each second passing, there were more free kick opportunities for both teams. In the 69th minute, the Knights proved to be deadly off a set piece 40 yards from goal. The ball was placed five yards from the sideline just in front of the Wesley student section. Dan Chrashewsky whipped in the set piece to the goal poaching Andrew Leissing. It would only take the slightest of touches for Leissing to redirect the ball into the back of the net and claim his second goal on the night.
The Knights had to fend off four corners in the final minutes of play to secure the win. But it was Mastrillo that saved Neumann's bacon when he sprinted to the corner of the box to lunge and punch the ball away from a Wolverine with seconds remaining.
“The back line was fantastic, but the forwards and midfielders defused counters that could have caused us real problems,” Sloan replied.
Neumann men's soccer will host Widener University Saturday at 7 pm. They tied 2-2 at PPL Park in 2010 and tied 0-0 in 2009.
