LANGHORNE, Pa. ­­– Gavin Rapp scored his first career goal for the Lebanon Valley College men's soccer team, which proved to be the game-winner during the program's 3-1 victory over Cairn University on Saturday, Sept. 13 at the Stillman Complex Turf Field.

Nathan Prex was also a key contributor to the victory for the Flying Dutchmen, posting a game-high three points with a goal and an assist. The senior forward's goal marked the 33^rd of his career, setting the men's soccer program's all-time record for goals. Will Burton made an impact during the win as well, netting a goal for Lebanon Valley. 

The defenses of both the Dutchmen (3-1-1) and the Highlanders (0-3-2) were dominant early in the contest, as neither program took a shot for over 20 minutes at the start. Prex registered the first attempt of the afternoon, putting a shot on goal for LVC that was saved at the 20:04 mark. Cairn countered with a try that went above the net 22:04 into the game. This was followed by another shot for the Flying Dutchmen by Prex, which went to the left of the net at the 25:04 mark.

Lebanon Valley opened the scoring 26:26 into the first half, taking a 1-0 lead over Cairn. The program got on the board when Burton found the net, courtesy of an assist by Prex. The Highlanders responded with some offensive opportunities, sending a shot over the upper-left corner of the net at the 32:47 mark before LVC blocked a shot attempt at the 34:38 mark, and another try went to the right of the net 10 seconds later. Jack Bowman followed this with a shot for the Dutchmen, which went above the net 38:24 into the game.

Cairn took another shot as the opening stanza rolled on, recording an attempt that went above the net at the 39:00 mark. JJ Porter took a shot for LVC 52 seconds later, which was blocked. Lebanon Valley then added another tally 41:04 into the first, extending its advantage to 2-0. The squad took a two-goal lead into halftime after Rapp sent a shot into the net for a goal, following an assist by Dom Beddia.

The Highlanders got on the scoreboard with the first shot of the second half, narrowing their deficit to 2-1 with a goal by Braden Allen at the 46:29 mark. The Dutchmen answered right back 47:55 into the contest, taking a 3-1 lead on Prex's historic goal. Lebanon Valley also kept sending the ball toward the net as the stanza progressed, as Logan Hicks put a shot on goal that was saved at the 49:34 mark, and Ben Ammon's try was saved at the 55:05 mark. Cairn then countered with four shots during a stretch of 3:29, in which the attempts were above the top-right corner of the net, blocked by LVC, to the right of the net, and above the net. 

The Flying Dutchmen continued to generate scoring chances as well, as Bowman registered a shot that went to the right of the net at the 66:43 mark. Lebanon Valley also remained productive defensively, keeping the opposition from taking its only shot on goal of the day until the 71^st minute. Cairn's attempt on goal at the 70:02 mark resulted in an important save for the Dutchmen by goalkeeper Ryan Simonette. LVC then kept battling on the offensive end, as Porter had a shot on goal that was saved at the 87:41 mark and a try that went to the left of the net with just 20 seconds left. Lebanon Valley went on to preserve its lead through the end of play, securing the 3-1 victory.  

Inside the Box Score

• Rapp scored his first career goal, which proved to be the game-winning shot. 
• Prex recorded a game-high three points to match a season-high, netting a goal and dishing out an assist. The senior scored his 33^rd career goal to break the program's career record, which was previously held by Grant Walter and Chris Hall. Additionally, Prex has scored a goal in each of LVC's past three games. 
• Burton netted his first goal of the season. 
• Beddia assisted Rapp's game-winning goal in the 42^nd minute. 
• Lebanon Valley recorded 12 total shots and had a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal over Cairn. 
• Prex tied for the team lead in total shots with three while logging a game-high two shots on goal.
• Porter tied for the LVC lead in total shots with three, putting an attempt on goal.
• Simonette made one save during the victory. 
• The Flying Dutchmen had an 11-3 advantage in corner kicks. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will be back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m., when the team will travel to take on Johns Hopkins at Homewood Field in Baltimore, Md. 

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