SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Swarthmore College men's soccer team earned its first victory of the season with a 3-1 victory over Kalamazoo College on Sunday afternoon. With today's triumph, Coach
Eric Wagner achieved his 300th career victory.
Mason Jelovsek shined in his Clothier Field debut, registering both his first and second collegiate goals. The rookie notched the game-winner in the 47th minute, while adding an insurance tally in the 62nd.
Joost Almekinders kickstarted a stretch of three-unanswered, second half goals with a game-tying score in the 47th minute. The senior captain tallied his second goal of the season with both coming off penalty kicks.
JohnPaul D'Andrea was all over the stat sheet, recording one assist with a team-high six shots. The forward created several scoring chances, drew a penalty kick and was a spark plug for the Garnet attack.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Kalamazoo stole an early goal after being awarded a free kick in the third minute. The Hornets played the free attempt to the far post, connecting on a header for the opening score.
- D'Andrea had a scoring chance in the 12th minute after spiking a shot off the left post. The Garnet offense generated the opportunity after a free kick was headed to the far post. D'Andrea had another opportunity in the 24th minute, but drove a header just beyond the near post.
- Javier Minuesa Sicilia made a heads-up defensive play to prevent a potential goal in the 36th minute. The sophomore got in the way of a Hornets shot attempt to deflect the ball away from the open goal.
- In the 44th minute, D'Andrea hit his second post of the half. The junior ripped a shot from the top of the box, which was slightly redirected by the Hornets off the right post.
- Almekinders evened the score with a penalty kick in the 47th minute. D'Andrea drew the foul inside the box to set up the equalizer. Jelovsek then added the go-ahead goal just 20 seconds later, giving the Garnet a 2-1 edge. D'Andrea settled and touched a beautiful feed to the first-year, which broke him free for his first collegiate score.
- The Garnet defense survived a free kick from just outside the box and a corner attempt in the 55th minute. Minuesa Sicilia came up with another key defensive stand, blocking a shot attempt from inside the box.
- Swarthmore added on an insurance tally in the 62nd minute on Jelovsek's second goal of the afternoon. Almekinders dribbled past a couple defenders before passing the ball off to the rookie in free space. Jelovsek then unleashed a rocket from the left side as he tucked the ball perfectly into the far post.
GARNET LEADERS
Points: Jelovsek 4
Goals: Jelovsek 2
Assists: D'Andrea, Almekinders 1
Shots: D'Andrea 6
Saves: Cogan 2
UP NEXT
The Garnet (1-1-1) host Widener University on Wednesday.
