BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – Junior Devaughn Johns (Mount Pleasant Mills, Pa./Midd-West) sent the big Homecoming crowd home happy on Saturday night after his game-winning header with one minute remaining gave Geneva a dramatic men's soccer victory over Westminster, 2-1.  The win was huge in getting the Golden Tornadoes back on track as they look to make another run at a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) title.  Geneva improved to 5-5-1, 2-1 in the PAC, while Westminster fell to 7-3, 1-1 in the PAC.

Westminster got on the board first when Shane Fallen hit a rocket from 30 yards out that found the upper corner of the goal in the 34^th minute, not giving sophomore goalkeeper Nate Burkhart (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) much of a chance to make the save.  Geneva's best chance in the half came off the foot of senior Liam O'Halloran (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria Catholic), but his quick turning shot from the top of the box was pushed wide by Westminster goalkeeper AJ Bove.

Geneva responded to the halftime deficit with renewed energy coming out of the break, as Geneva immediately put the visiting Titans on their heels.  The Golden Tornadoes were rewarded when O'Halloran made a run down the left hand-side, getting around a defender and in on the goal before being fouled from behind in the box, resulting in a penalty kick.  O'Halloran converted the kick in the 50^th minute to tie the score.

Geneva had a few chances over the next 30 minutes to find the game-winner, the best being when freshman Alex Yoder (Milton, Pa./Milton Area) had two close shots in quick succession saved by Bove, keeping the game even.  Then, in the 89^th minute, junior Jake Broadwick's (McKees Rocks, Pa./Robinson Township Christian) corner found Johns on the back post, and Johns left no doubt as he headed the corner into the back of the net with one minute remaining, setting off a celebration in front of the Geneva bench.  The Golden Tornadoes then closed out the final minute for the dramatic 2-1 victory.

"Tonight was a great win for our program, our school, our fans, and our alumni," said Head Coach Gary Dunda.  "It's always a really tough game against Westminster.  They have a really good team, and every time we play them it's a battle.  To come out with a late goal, it just shows the character and resolve this group has.  It's a young group, and we're getting better every day.  This result just makes us look forward to next week even more."

O'Halloran was dangerous all game, as the senior seems to be rounding into form at just the right time.  He led the offense with six shots, including four on goal, as Geneva outshot Westminster 16-12, including an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal.  Burkhart made three saves to pick up the win.

The schedule doesn't get any easier for Geneva, as Coach Dunda referenced.  On Wednesday Geneva hosts Grove City at 7:00 p.m.  The Wolverines were picked as the preseason favorite in the PAC, one spot ahead of Geneva.


Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. Offering over 80 traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs, and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality. U.S. News & World Report ranks Geneva as a Top Three Best Value Regional University with one of the Top 100 engineering programs in the nation. Adhering to the truth of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God's Word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today's world.