HUNTINGDON, Pa.-The Juniata men's soccer team wrapped up their opening homestand with a tough, 2-1 loss to Transylvania, Saturday afternoon at Gibbel Stadium.
Two minutes into the contest, the Transylvania goalkeeper was looking to quickly restart play and threw the ball across the box to his left. The ball ricocheted off his own player and right to the feet of Bass Diakhoumpa (Dakar, Senegal / Mercersburg Academy), who ripped a shot that went wide right of the goal.
In the 19th minute, Jacob Owings (Hanover, Pa. / Littlestown) came out to parry a ball, but the ball caromed right to a Pioneer forward who looked to have a certain goal. Henry Doherty (Hanover, Pa. / Littlestown) managed to get a foot on the ball to send it wide of the Eagle net.
Six minutes later, Logan Stori (Elverson, Pa. / Owen J. Roberts) launched a free-kick from half field that Doherty knocked down in the box and Diakhoumpa nodded it towards goal but right at the Pioneer keeper.
In the 34th minute, Michael Realbuto (Hanover, Pa. / Littlestown) played the ball to Jarrod Gibson (Abington, Pa. / Abington) who smashed a shot on frame that the Pioneer keeper had to push away.
With three minutes to go in the half, an errant Eagle touch created a Transylvania breakaway that resulted in a goal as JC trailed 1-0 at half.
Two minutes into the second half, Diakhoumpa again got a good look on net, but the Pioneer keeper again made a stop. A minute later, Wyatt Page (King of Prussia, Pa. / Shipley) walloped a ball on the bounce from 20 yards out that went just over the crossbar.
In the 62nd minute, Charlie Kovach (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Chartiers Valley) tied the game with this.
Charlie Kovach evens the score for men's soccer at 1-1 against Transylvania! 25 min left in the game. #wingsup pic.twitter.com/mGN01PsqJy
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) August 31, 2019
In the final minutes of the second half, Realbuto received a through ball and was looking to turn towards the Pioneer net when the Transylvania center back fouled him from behind with a clear path to the goal. It was his second yellow, so the visitors had to play a man down the rest of the game.
Five minutes into the OT, Transylvania got the ball going forward while the Eagle defense was not set. Owings deflected the first shot but the Pioneer midfielder nodded home the game-winner.
The Eagles will travel to Saint Vincent, Tuesday at 4:00.