SCRANTON, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley College men's soccer team clinched the top seed in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Championships by earning a 2-0 victory over Marywood University on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at Pacers Turf Field.
Gavin Rapp and
Eli Yerger each scored a goal for LVC, helping lead the program to the important win.
The Dutchmen (13-2-2, 6-0-1 MAC Freedom) created some scoring chances early in the first half, as
Will Burton put a shot on goal that was saved at the 1:15 mark, and Rapp had an attempt saved at the 2:09 mark. The programs proceeded to go back and forth for over 12 minutes, as neither squad tallied a shot during this stretch. The Pacers (3-7-3, 1-4-1 MAC Freedom) then attempted a pair of shots within nine seconds in the 15th minute, and LVC's defense responded with a pair of blocks.
This was followed by the teams battling defensively until Rapp put a shot on goal for LVC that was saved at the 27:14 mark, and Burton had a try saved at the 34:41 mark. Yerger also contributed to the program's offensive efforts, logging a shot that went to the left of the net 40:53 into the contest. The teams remained tied at the end of the first 45 minutes and entered halftime in a scoreless tie.
The squads traded shots at the beginning of the second half, as each program tallied three attempts during the first 10:28 of the stanza. The Flying Dutchmen then registered a shot by
Dom Beddia that went to the right of the net at the 57:04 mark, and a shot by Burton that was saved at the 58:35 mark. Lebanon Valley got on the scoreboard 61:38 into the game, taking a 1-0 lead over Marywood. The program went ahead when Rapp sent a penalty kick goal into the lower-right corner of the net. LVC proceeded to outshoot the opposition 11-1 over the next 16:56, including two shots on target each by Burton and Rapp that were saved.
The Pacers countered with a shot on goal at the 81:49 mark, and the Dutchmen answered with a save by goalkeeper
Isaac Yerger. Marywood also took a shot at the 82:13 mark, which went to the left of the net. Lebanon Valley found the net again at the 83:09 mark, taking a 2-0 advantage. The team went up by two when
Eli Yerger kicked the ball into the upper-right side of the net for a goal, courtesy of an assist by
Ben Ammon. This would stand as the final score, as LVC maintained its lead through the end of play to seal the important victory.
Inside the Box Score
- The Dutchmen clinched the top seed in the MAC Freedom Tournament with their fifth consecutive win.
- Rapp scored his 15th goal of the year, which marked his third game-winner of the fall. The sophomore currently leads the MAC Freedom in goals and with 32 points, while tying for the conference lead in game-winning goals. Rapp's totals in points and goals currently rank fourth in the program's single-season record books. Additionally, he recorded game-highs and season-highs of eight shots and six shots on goal.
- Eli Yerger netted his third goal of the campaign.
- Ammon dished out his first assist of the season on Eli Yerger's goal.
- Isaac Yerger made one save during his second shutout of the season. The victory also marked the goalkeeper's 12th win of the year, which is tied for fifth in the program's single-season record books.
- Lebanon Valley outshot Marywood 25-11 and had a 13-1 advantage in shots on goal.
- LVC had a 12-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Up Next
Lebanon Valley will close out the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 3 p.m., when the program will host Arcadia University for Senior Day at Herbert Field.
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