Box Score

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – A late goal by junior Luke Klingler (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg) helped the Lycoming College men's soccer team close within a goal, but second-place Elizabethtown College was able to hold on for a key 2-1 Commonwealth Conference win to clinch a playoff slot at the Shangraw Athletic Complex on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 30.
 
The loss pushes the Warriors (8-7-2 overall, 3-4-1 Commonwealth) into no worse than a tie for fifth in the Commonwealth Conference standings with Stevenson (8-9-2 overall, 3-4-1 Commonwealth) with one game remaining. Depending on a late game result between fourth-place Lebanon Valley (9-5-3 overall, 3-3-1 Commonwealth) and last-place Widener, the Warriors could move into a tie for fourth and an Albright (6-9-2 overall, 2-4-1 Commonwealth) win over Alvernia (7-8-2 overall, 4-2-1 Commonwealth) could create a four-way tie.
 
The Warriors pressed late in the game, with a service into the box reaching the head of freshman Bill Kerr (Bowie, Md./DeMatha Catholic), who headed it to the net, where it was punched away by the Elizabethtown keeper. Klingler was there to clean up the loose ball, though, delivering a shot into the left side of the net for his fourth goal of the season with 31 seconds left.
 
The game developed as a tough, physical one in the first half, complete with five cards and 23 fouls. Both teams were awarded penalty kicks in the first 30 minutes, with both keepers making huge saves to keep the game scoreless. Finally, in the 34^th minute, another penalty kick off a foul in the box helped Andrew Sandridge break the scoreless tie.
 
In the second half, Zach Hollinger scored off a free kick just outside the Lycoming box, helping Elizabethtown (9-6-2 overall, 6-2 Commonwealth) take the 2-0 lead and set up the dramatic end.
 
Junior Connor Keenan (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) stopped seven shots in the game for the Warriors and Rodrigo Barrera stopped four for the Blue Jays.
 
The Warriors wrap up the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 2, against Hood (5-10-1 overall, 2-5-1 Commonwealth) with one of the five Commonwealth Conference playoff slots still well within their sights. The kick-off is set for 2 p.m. at the Shangraw Athletic Complex.
 
Before the game, the Warriors will honor seniors Connor McNiff (Marietta, Pa./Donegal) and Justin Walker (Stroudsburg, Pa./Moravian Academy).