Atlantic Spotlight, Wk 3

By D3soccer.com Contributor

While many teams are hitting their mid-season stride and conference play is starting in earnest, several schools in the region are recovering from the loss and damage associated with Hurricane Florence. They will miss some games and face demanding challenges. But they will overcome the devastation and heartache using the same grit, determination and teamwork they exhibit on and off the pitch each and every day.

There were great games this past week and top matchups this coming week.

Top teams Lynchburg and Mary Washington battle to stalemate

Wednesday afternoon, the No. 7 Lynchburg Hornets (4-0-1) and the No. 12 Mary Washington Eagles (5-0-1) battled to a 0-0 tie. The Hornets hit the crossbar a few times and put more shots on goal (7-1) but neither of these top teams could break through. Hornet Senior goalkeeper Dylan McLaurin and Eagle sophomore Ken Kurtz recorded the shutouts.

Both team’s Saturday games were impacted by Hurricane Florence and either cancelled or postponed.

Salisbury Sea Gulls post a pair of shutouts.

Junior defender Trent Hofmeister bounced one in off the crossbar in the 81st minute for the only goal as the Salisbury Sea Gulls (6-1-0) held off the Shoreman (2-3-1) Wednesday afternoon. Trevor Brookhart stopped 2 shots for his 4th shutout of the early season.

In another competitive game on Saturday, Brookhart and the Sea Gulls again came out on top 1-0 in a tough game against the Misericordia Cougars (1-3-1).

Tartans battle back.

The No. 11 Carnegie Mellon Tartans (4-0-1) controlled most of play against the Westminster (Pa.) Titans (4-2-0) but needed a late rally for a come-from-behind, 2-1 road win. After a scoreless first half sophomore Nick Iregui put the Titans up in the 63rd minute with a nice header off a corner kick from Freshman Noah Weiss. It was Iregui’s 7th of the early season.

The Tartans continued to pressure and eventually broke through as senior Zack Masciopinto popped in a rebound in the 78th minute. In the 87th he took a pass from junior Jack Painter and finished the eventual game winner.

Haverford loses tough one to Stevens, responds well against Johns Hopkins.

Of course, very wet conditions do not matter to the Stevens Ducks (7-1-0). In a stormy 3-1 win, three separate Ducks scored before the Haverford Fords (3-2-0) tallied in the final moments. The stat line shows a tight affair with shots, shots on goal, and corners effectively even. Senior Haddy Abdelhady started the scoring off a nice cross from Freshman Adam Silva in the 17th. Silva made it 2-0 a few minutes after the restart while fellow freshman Justin Kochman sealed the win in the 67th.

But the Fords bounced back 3 days later with a taut 1-0 win against No. 20 Johns Hopkins (5-2-0) to start Centennial Conference play for each team. Nick Janelli’s 4th of the season in the 4th minute wound up as the winner. The tough defensive battle featured twice as many fouls as shots (33 fouls, 16 shots) with most of the play in and around midfield. Junior Michael Iocone made 4 saves for his first clean sheet of the season.

Drew digs deep against Muhlenberg. Mules then go toe-to-toe with Franklin and Marshall

With the prospect of falling to .500 through 6 games, on the road, down 2-0 against a solid Muhlenberg Mules (3-1-1) team, the Drew Rangers (5-2-0) dug deep and put their season back on solid footing with an inspiring 3-2 overtime victory. Senior midfielder Max Correa led the Rangers by scoring their first goal and assisting on the other two. Senior Alexis Velazquez netted the winner, his 4th of the year.

The game was as close as the score would suggest. The stat line: shots (22-20), shots on goal (8-6), saves (6-7), and fouls (15-16).

On Saturday, the Rangers topped Manhattanville (4-2-0) 2-1 while the Mules started Centennial Conference play with a hard fought 0-0 draw against No. 10 Franklin and Marshall (5-0-1).

Rowan playing well.

The Rowan Profs (5-2-0) took care of business on their home turf against the Roanoke Maroons (3-2-0) on Wednesday evening by a score of 3-0. While the Profs had the better of play in the first half, it only resulted in a 1-0 halftime lead. But senior forward Ryan Campbell put the game away midway through the 2nd half with two goals within a minute’s span.

On Saturday Rowan hosted William Paterson (4-2-0) to start NJAC conference play and came away with a 1-0 victory.

Roanoke’s Saturday game was postponed due to Hurricane Florence.

Teams with early season success.

Strength of schedule notwithstanding, several unheralded teams have gotten off to great starts this season.

In the NJAC both TCNJ (7-0-0) and Ramapo (6-0-0) have started strong. In the CAC, Penn State-Harrisburg (7-0-0) has rolled while St. Mary’s (Md.) is (4-0-2). In the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, the Grove City Wolverines (4-0-2) also have not lost.

And hats off to the Wolverines of Wesley (6-0-0) with a couple of results against teams from traditionally stronger conferences.

Noteworthy games this coming week.

No. 2 Messiah (5-0-1) takes on York (Pa.) (4-2-0) Franklin and Marshall also visits William Paterson (4-1-1) and hosts Haverford,

Carnegie Mellon takes to the pitch against Allegheny (3-4-0), the aforementioned Grove City, and John Carroll (3-3-0). Mary Washington will face two tough teams in Catholic (3-1-0) and Widener (4-1-1), and Johns Hopkins hosts Gettysburg (2-2-1).

TCNJ battles Drew and then Ramapo, Montclair (6-1-1) and Rowan get together, and Stockton (4-3-0) takes on Rutgers-Newark (3-3-1) and Moravian (3-2-1).

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