WASHINGTON, Pa. –
McKinley Joseph (Stamford, Conn./King School) tallied a pair of goals and
Jimmy Gogol (Westminster, Md./Westminster) scored the eventual game-winner to lift the Washington & Jefferson men's soccer team to a 4-3 win over visiting Waynesburg University in a Presidents' Athletic Conference match at Alexandre Stadium.
The win improves the Presidents to 2-1-2 in conference play and 3-4-3 overall. The Yellow Jackets drop to 3-2 in the league and 6-4 overall.
The first half featured a flurry of scoring action. W&J put up the game's first goal, as senior Joseph smashed one of the post and in after a lead pass by
Jai Sama (India / Brookhouse College (England)) in the fifth minute of play.
Waynesburg responded with a pair of unassisted goals. Tyler Mohrbacher blasted one into the net in the 17th minute. The Yellow Jackets added another scoring tally in the 18th minute when Seth Massotti snuck a goal into the low right corner of the net for a 2-1 lead.
Justin Parker Wyatt (Coatesville, Pa. / Unionville) broke free from the defense and finished in the low left corner of the goal to even the score in the 22nd minute.
Waynesburg out-shot W&J by a 10-7 margin over the first 45 minutes. Both teams put seven shots on goal in the first half.
The Yellow Jackets pushed back in front early in the second half. Vincent Palmeri headed a free kick from Alexander White past the W&J keeper and into the back of the net in the 49th minute.
McKinley answered back for the Presidents in the 51st minute. The senior finished off a pass from
Jimmy Gogol (Westminster, Md. / Westminster) to even the score at 3-3.
Gogol then put the Red and Black in front in the 61st minute. The freshman netted his team-high fifth goal of the season. Gogol collected a long pass, settled the ball and dribbled in a few yards before burying the shot into the back of the goal in the 61st minute.
Ethan Bowser (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) was credited with his team-leading fourth assist on the Gogol score.
Both teams had chances to score down the stretch. Looking for an insurance goal, Gogol hit the crossbar in the 79th minute. Waynesburg played to a man-advantage for the final nine-plus minutes. However, the Presidents were able to withstand the pressure, which included three corner kicks and earn the victory.
Charles Boldosser (Westminster, Md./South Carroll) registered seven saves over the full 90 minutes to pick up the victory in goal.
Gogol finished with a match-high six shots for W&J. Gogol has scored in three-consecutive games and four of five conference matches.
The close match was reflected on the final stat sheet. Waynesburg held a slight 18-16 advantage in shots. W&J posted a narrow 11-10 edge in shots on goal. Waynesburg earned a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.
The Presidents will host Franciscan as part of homecoming weekend on Saturday, Oct. 7. Start time at Alexandre Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
