ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – In a rematch of the 2022 United East Conference Men's Soccer Tournament championship game Saturday afternoon (Oct. 7), St. Mary's College of Maryland and Penn State Harrisburg once again played to a tie as both teams matched each other at each step. St. Mary's College (5-3-3, 0-1-1 UEC) and Harrisburg (4-4-5, 1-0-2 UEC) battled to a 2-2 draw for the second consecutive game in the series.
How It Happened
- Penn State Harrisburg came out firing as the Lions put up two shots and earned a corner kick in the first 30 seconds of the game.
- The Seahawks first two shots of the contest in the ninth minute tested Hossom Aly in a six-second span.
- Senior Matthew Kopsidas (Rockville, Md./T.S. Wootton) picked up two stops in the 12th, 27th, and 31st minutes to maintain the scoreless draw.
- The momentum going into halftime was in St. Mary's favor as the Seahawks struck first in the 45th minute. Senior captain Garrett Bridgwater (Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown) sent in a cross from the right side of the box to the penalty spot and junior forward Elliot Hodges (Rockville, Md./Avalon) spun around to send a right-footed shot into the lower right corner for a 1-0 Seahawk lead.
- The final three goals of the game were scored in the first seven minutes of the second half.
- The Lions equalized with a Kobe Harris goal just 110 seconds into the second frame before senior forward Jason Caro (Lanham, Md./Good Counsel) landed St. Mary's back on top less than five minutes later. Caro collected a short pass from junior forward Alex Ochman (Rockville, Md./T.S. Wootton) and fired it off the lower far post for his third of the season.
- Harrisburg once again tied it up as Jaden Longdon found the back of the net at 51:24.
- St. Mary's looked to put up a third goal with shots from Ochman and first-year Braden Kindred (Olney, Md./Sherwood) in the 61st and 62nd minutes but Aly was up to the challenge and preserved the 2-2 tie.
- Hodges had another quality opportunity for the Seahawks in the 75th minute but Aly denied the hosts once again.
Inside the Box Score
- The game ended with shots equal at 14 apiece while St. Mary's notched a slight 7-6 edge in corner kicks.
St. Mary's College Game Notes
- Kopsidas finished the game with four saves while senior captain Lucca Mazzola (Pasadena, Md./Spalding) led the squad with three shots.
- The all-time series now stands at 6-3-3 in favor of St. Mary's following today's action.
Penn State Harrisburg Game Notes
- Aly came up with five saves while Longdon tallied a game-best four shots.
Up Next for the Seahawks
- Oct. 11 at Christopher Newport (7-1-1) – Newport News, Va. (Captains Field) – 6 p.m.
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