ESU-Dowling Men’s Soccer

MSOC10-14-01

EAST STROUDSBURG – Undefeated Dowling scored two goals in the final four minutes to defeat East Stroudsburg University, 3-2, in a furiously-played men’s soccer game Sunday at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

The Lions, ranked fourth in the latest NCAA Division II national soccer poll, raised their record to 8-0-1. ESU had its four-game winning streak broken and is now 10-4.

It was a rematch of last year’s NCAA Division II tournament first-round game, won by the Warriors, 1-1, 3-2, on penalty kicks.

It looked like it was ESU’s day in the first half as Tom Mustac scored twice to give the team a 2-0 lead. The first goal came after 6:31 as he connected from the top of the box after a pass from Kamar Samuels. He then scored again at 18:45, knocking in a deflection off a shot by Sean Stewart.

Dowling started its comeback 5:58 into the second half on an unassisted goal by Paul Yarde. Still ahead, 2-1, the Warriors clung to the lead for more than 30 minutes before the Lions’ Garrick Turner tied the game with a shot from left corner into the far post after a long feed from Georges Haba. It came with 3:51 left to play.

Less than a minute and a half later with 2:24 remaining, Haba booted in the game-winner on a low rocketed shot from 32 yards out on the left which just found the nets inside the far post. ESU goalie Jason Land never had a chance to get to the ball.

Land turned in a strong performance, making eight saves on Dowling’s 15 shots. Mervin Slade, the Lions’ goalie, had five saves on ESU’s 11 attempts, including stopping a penalty kick by Stewart in the first half.

Dowling 0-3 3

East Stroudsburg 2-0 2

ES – Tom Mustac (Kamar Samuels), 6:31

ES – Mustac (Sean Stewart), 18:45

Dowl – Paul Yarde (unassisted), 50:58

Dowl – Garrick Turner (Georges Haba), 86:09

Dowl – Haba (unassisted), 87:26

Shots: Dowl 15, ESU 11; Corner Kicks: Dowl 4, ESU 6; Goalie Saves: Dowl – Mervin Shade 5, ESU – Jason Land 8

Records: Dowling 8-0-1, ESU 10-4

###