ANNVILLE, Pa. ­­– The Lebanon Valley College Men's Soccer team went back and forth with DeSales University in its last home game of the regular season, as the program dropped a hard-fought 2-0 match on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Herbert Field.

The Dutchmen and the Bulldogs competed defensively in the first half, keeping things scoreless through the opening 45 minutes. Lebanon Valley limited the opposition early in the stanza, preventing DeSales from taking a shot during the first nine minutes. The Bulldogs followed this with three shots over a period of 3:17 that began in the 10^th minute, which resulted in an attempt that went to the left of the net, a blocked shot, and a try that went over the upper right corner of the net.

Lebanon Valley's offense registered the first shot on goal of the afternoon, as Will Burton had an attempt that was saved at the 14:48 mark. DeSales countered by sending the ball toward the net 19:40 into the game, and goalkeeper Dalton Fitterling was there to make the save for LVC. Lucas Strange then logged a shot on goal for the Flying Dutchmen, which was saved at the 20:17 mark.

The squads proceeded to battle defensively, as neither side took another shot for the next 14:30. Lebanon Valley then generated some offensive opportunities with a shot by Ethan Groff that went to the left of the net at the 38:53 mark, before Aidan Negron's attempt that was saved 41:11 into the contest. Fitterling also remained productive on the defensive end, as he tallied another save with 1:26 left in the first. This prompted the teams to enter halftime in a scoreless tie.

The first shot on goal of the second half was taken by the Bulldogs 1:54 into the frame, which led to Fitterling's third save. DeSales then got on the scoreboard at the 47:11 mark, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Liam MacDonald. The Bulldogs took another shot on goal 53:05 into the matchup, but it was saved by Fitterling. Offensively, the Dutchmen followed this with a shot on goal by Strange that was saved at the 57:14 mark.

Lebanon Valley kept working to create scoring chances as the second half progressed, as Connor Given took a shot that went to the right of the net at the 71:40 mark before Matthew Weinstock-Collins registered an attempt that was saved at the 73:34 mark. DeSales then extended its advantage to 2-0 83:07 into the game, going ahead on another goal by MacDonald.

The Dutchmen continued to battle until the clock expired, taking five shots in the remaining minutes. Aaron Weitzel contributed to these efforts with a shot on goal that was saved 87:23 into the contest. This was followed by Charlie Kramer, Charlie McCormick, and Darryl Greenwood, each taking a shot within 31 seconds in the final minute. Ultimately, DeSales maintained its lead through the end of play.

Inside the Box Score

• Lebanon Valley outshot DeSales 18-16 and tallied six shots on goal.
• Negron and Weinstock-Collins tied for the team lead in total shots with three, including a shot on goal each.
• Strange led LVC with a pair of shots on goal.
• Weitzel and Burton both registered two total shots, putting one on goal.
• Greenwood also took two shots during the contest.
• Fitterling made seven saves for the Dutchmen.
• The Flying Dutchmen registered 10 corner kicks while the Bulldogs had two.

Up Next
The Dutchmen will return to the pitch at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, as the team will travel to take on Delaware Valley University at Robert A. Lipinski Field at James Work Memorial Stadium in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, for its final game of the regular season.

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