WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – A goal in the 88^th minute by junior Nathan Harding (Secretary, Md./North Dorcester) helped close the gap, but the Lycoming College men's soccer team fell to regionally-ranked Lebanon Valley, 2-1, in a key MAC Commonwealth clash at the Shangraw Athletic Complex on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 19.
 
The Warriors (7-6-3 overall, 2-3-1 MAC Commonwealth) controlled play for much of the second half despite playing a man down, and finally broke through with Harding's goal from just outside the goal box after junior Abdullahi Abdi (Seattle, Wash./James Garfield) drew a foul. Harding used the advantageous position with a shot into the left corner.
 
Lebanon Valley (11-2 overall, 4-1 MAC Commonwealth) had already built a 2-0 lead, though, scoring in the first half when Jake Kline got inside the last defender in the box and fired a shot into the right corner. In the second half, while Lycoming held a 12-7 advantage in shots, Tyler Skye was able to score on a counter attack, as he rebounded a shot off the post and found the left corner of the net.
 
The Warriors had one opportunity after drawing within a goal, getting a corner kick with 40 seconds left, but Lebanon Valley was able to clear it out before goalkeeper Cam Avery was able to outleap everyone on the return kick.
 
Senior Josh Gildea (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh) stopped four shots in net for the Warriors and Lebanon Valley's Avery stopped five to earn the win.
 
Lycoming finished with a 20-13 advantage in shots and 9-2 in corner kicks.
 
The Warriors get back on the field with another critical MAC Commonwealth matchup at Hood on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 3 p.m.