Men’s Soccer Begins PSUAC Tournament Run Thursday Against GA

MEDIA, Pennsylvania -- Aiming for its third consecutive PSUAC men's soccer championship, Penn State Brandywine will begin its tournament run with a semifinal game against Penn State Greater Allegheny on Thursday afternoon at 2:00 pm at the West Chester Sports Complex (Directions).

Led by Head Coach Scott Spangler, who was named PSUAC Coach of the Year for the second time earlier in the week, Brandywine secured the tournament's top seed and a bye into the semifinals after finishing atop the PSUAC standings with an 8-1 record during the regular season.

The Lions are 3-0 and have outscored GA 13-1 in three matches during Spangler's three years with the team.

Brandywine enters the tournament having won eight-straight matches against PSUAC teams, a streak that began on Sept. 26 with a 3-0 victory over Greater Allegheny. Bill Walleekendeh (Chester, Pa./Chester), Eduardo Gil Matos (Folsom, Pa./Wesleyan Academy) and Joe Rhoads (Folsom, Pa./Ridley) all delivered goals for the Lions in that game, while goalkeepers Joe Opdenaker (Lenni, Pa./The Christian Academy) and Will Scott-Norris (Wilmington, Del./Mt. Pleasant) combined for four saves and Brandywine's first shutout of the year.

Walleekendeh, a first team all-PSUAC standout, leads the Lions offensively for the third-straight season with 17 goals and seven assists for 41 points. Newcomer Fornodson Pierre (Philadelphia, Pa./Olney Charter) haa added five goals, while freshman Dan Tyler (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) and sophomore Pat Lutes (Drexel Hill, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) have both scored four times.

Defensively, a pair of second team all-PSUAC performers lead the Lions' back line. Sophomore goalkeeper Pat O'Neill (Morton, Pa./Ridley) posted five victories in goal, three by way of shutout, and freshman James Cellucci (Rosemont, Pa./Radnor) has stabilized the Brandywine defense, one the PSUAC's top units, which features three rookie starters.

Greater Allegheny, the No. 5 seed, advanced to the semifinals by virtue of a 2-0 triumph over fourth-seeded Penn State York on Tuesday. Marin Marina netted a pair of goals, scoring in the 88th and 89th minute of the tightly-contested match.

No. 2 Penn State Beaver and No. 3 Penn State Hazleton will square off in Thursday's second semifinal. The winners will advance to Sunday's championship match, which will be played in State College at 4:00 pm.