Keuka Men’s Soccer Rallies Past Pitt-Bradford
KEUKA PARK, N.Y.— Seniors John Mastrella (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) and Nate Smith (Hilton, NY/Hilton) each scored a goal and added an assist as the Keuka College men's soccer team overcame a penalty kick goal to defeat the University of Pitt-Bradford 2-1 Friday night in the Lakefront Classic at Keuka.
It was eerily reminiscent of the 2011 season opener, when both Smith and Mastrella netted goals to lead the Storm past Pitt-Bradford in overtime by an identical 2-1 score.
The Storm (1-0) missed a golden chance to score in the first half when Smith was awarded a penalty kick for a hand ball in the box, but Panthers' goalie Adam Forster made a diving save to his left to deny Smith, one of Keuka's co-captains.
The game was scoreless into the 64th minute, when Travis Herr converted a penalty kick to stake the Panthers (0-1) to a 1-0 lead. It took Keuka less than four minutes to respond with the equalizer.
Smith, a first-team All-North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) midfielder and third-team All-Region player in 2011, played a ball into Mastrella, a second-team All-NEAC forward. Mastrella sent his header into the back of the net to knot the score with 23:30 remaining.
Smith then sent the Storm home winners in its season opener in the 83rd minute. Mastrella received a through ball and pushed a shot towards the near post, but the Panthers defense denied the goal. Moments later, a streaking Smith bore down on the loose ball and converted to put the Green and Gold ahead to stay.
Freshman Preston Vick (Kendall, NY/Kendall) made two saves to win his collegiate debut.
The Lakefront Classic continues on Saturday, as Wells College (1-0) and Pitt-Bradford play at 2:30 p.m., followed by the Green and Gold hosting D'Youville (0-1) at 5 p.m.
Keuka defeated Pitt-Bradford 2-1 in overtime during the 2011 season opener and handed D'Youville a 3-0 setback on Sept. 14, 2011.
The Lakefront Classic begins a period of four straight home games to open the season for Keuka, which plays its NEAC opener at home at 3 p.m. Sept. 8 against Penn State-Abington, followed with a 3 p.m. home clash against Penn State-Berks on Sept. 9.
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