WASHINGTON, Pa. --
Claude Irankunda (Dayton, Ohio / Spring Valley Academy) converted a penalty kick goal in the last minute of play in the first half allowing the Washington & Jefferson men's soccer team to claim the lead for good in a 2-1 victory Saturday afternoon against the Capital Comets at Alexandre Stadium.
The Comets got the game started with a goal in the middle of the first half off of a penalty kick of their own. This goal was the result of persistent aggressiveness by the Comets, which drew a PK opportunity that Devon Hess converted in the 12th minute of play.
W&J would go on to respond quickly with a goal by junior
Parker Byas (Columbia, Md. / Mount Saint Joseph) as
McKinley Joseph (Stamford, Conn. / King School) set him up on a quick drive down the pitch. The teams played through 25+ minutes of scoreless soccer and appeared that they would head into halftime evened up at 1-1.
However, the Presidents made a drive to the Comets goal and drew a penalty where they would have Irankunda come in to take the PK. He placed a perfect shot in the lower 90 to score what would become the deciding score of the game.
Will Keber (Irwin, Pa. / Norwin),
Jacob Lee (Honolulu, Hawaii / Iolani School), and
Sean-Samuel Pessinaba (Bayonne, N.J. / Bayonne) anchored the backline for the remainder of the game, as they fought off an impressive Comets offense, avenging a 4-0 defeat from a season ago.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Charles Boldosser (Westminster, Md. / South Carroll) recorded eight saves throughout 90 minutes to earn the victory.
W&J journeys to Carnegie Mellon University on Tuesday, Sept. 13. for a mid-week matchup. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
