Tribe Falls to Nittany Lions at Penn State Classic

Junior forward Nathan Belcher scored his second career goal for the Tribe.

09/07/07 8:20PM

University Park, Pa. - The William and Mary men’s soccer team dropped the opening game of the 2007 Penn State Classic, falling to the host Nittany Lions, 4-1, on Friday night at Jeffrey Field. The College pulled to within a goal at 2-1 in the second half, but could not find the equalizer before PSU added a pair of late insurance tallies in the final five minutes of play. W&M fell to 1-1 on the year, while Penn State improved to 1-2.

The Tribe had the opening chance of the contest as sophomore midfielder Price Thomas lifted a shot high of the frame. The Nittany Lions turned up the heat from that point in the opening half, taking the game’s next seven shots. PSU cashed in on its first attempt on goal and third shot in the sequence at the 21:37 mark.

Penn State opened the scoring, getting on the board in the 22nd minute of play. Junior forward Jason Yeisley tallied the Nittany Lions’ first goal of the 2007 season off an assist from Stephen Reihner.

The Tribe drew its first corner of the match in the 30th minute of play but could not convert on the opportunity. W&M also had the final chance of the opening half. Following a Penn State foul, freshman midfielder Ian Stowe struck a shot, but it once again went high of the goal.

Three minutes into the second half, W&M’s offensive spark plug, senior midfielder Doug Ernst saw his attempt at knotting the contest at 1-1 go wide of the PSU frame. The College’s first chance on goal came from senior back Michael Yakovac, but his shot was snuffed out by PSU senior goalkeeper Conrad Taylor in the 60th minute of play.

Just over a minute later, PSU extended it lead to 2-0. Sophomore midfielder Frank Costigiola tallied the Nittany Lions second marker of the contest, scoring off an assist from freshman forward Treavor Gelsinger in the 62nd minute.

The Tribe finally found the back of the net to pull within a goal nearly 15 minutes later. Junior striker Nathan Belcher scored to pull W&M within 2-1 in the 74th minute. It was the second goal of Belcher’s Tribe career.

With W&M pushing for the equalizer in the final minutes, PSU added a pair of late tallies for the final margin. Junior midfielder Barkley Miller added the third Nittany Lion goal from sophomore midfielder Vincent Salvatico in the 86th minute, before Yeisley capped the scoring with his second goal of the game off the dish from Gelsinger.

Senior Brennan Wergely finished with seven saves in goal for the Tribe.

The College will return to action at the Penn State Classic when its faces No. 22 Ohio State on Sunday, Sept. 9. The match is slated for a noon start time at Jeffrey Field and can be followed live over GameTracker by following the link at gopsusports.com or TribeAthletics.com.

Box Score