CRESSON, Pa. – It's been a very impressive start to the season for the Geneva College men's soccer team, and the Golden Tornadoes continued their strong play with a quality victory at Mount Aloysius on Wednesday afternoon by a 2-1 score.  It's Geneva's fourth straight win to open the season, and the Golden Tornadoes have yet to trail this year.

The match represented two teams picked to win their respective conferences in their preseason polls, Geneva in the Presidents' Athletic Conference and Mount Aloysius in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.  These two teams have matched up the prior three years, with the three games resulting in two ties and a Mountie one-goal win last year, so this match figured to be a tight one. 

Geneva controlled possession early, forcing the Mounties to chase for much of the beginning stages of the match.  Junior Gabe Singh had a good chance 13 minutes into the game when a free kick from junior Wil Dunda fell at his feet at the top of the box, but his shot went barely wide.  The ensuing goal kick by Mount Aloysius almost proved disastrous for the Golden Tornadoes, though, when the Mountie goalie sent a long kick over the top of Geneva's defense, and some miscommunication along the backline allowed Bill Dohren to get to the ball first for a clean look, but his shot caromed off the crossbar.

That proved to be the only chance of the first half for the Mounties, and Geneva's consistent possession and pressure led to a goal eight minutes later.  Senior Carnel Kerr grabbed an errant touch by a Mountie defender and went in on goal, with junior George Cottenden racing in beside him.  Kerr slotted the ball into Cottenden's run to give him a one-on-one situation with the goalie, and Cottenden coolly one-timed the ball into the back of the net to give Geneva the lead in the 22^nd minute.

Geneva broke through for a second goal four minutes before half, with the Golden Tornadoes' reserves mostly on the field.  Geneva put together a beautiful sequence of passing to put junior Jeremy Thompson free down the right flank.  Thompson carried the ball deep and then sent a ball through the middle of the box where sophomore Collin Yeatts was making a run, and Yeatts' shot to the far post hit the back of the net to give the Golden Tornadoes a 2-0 lead going into the break.  Geneva held a 5-1 edge in shots at the half, including a 4-0 edge in shots on goal.

Geneva kept up the pressure right out of the break, and it almost generated a third goal two minutes in when senior Kyle Lapoure's shot from the top of the box went just over the bar.

However, ten minutes into the second half, Mount Aloysius was given a free kick just outside the top of Geneva's box, and Joel Martinez sent the ball just inside the far corner of Geneva's goal to cut the Golden Tornado lead in half.  The goal seemed to spark the Mounties with a burst of energy.  A minute later, another free kick generated another great look from Mount Aloysius that just went wide.  Several minutes later, a defensive giveaway forced senior goalkeeper Evan Shale to make a tremendous leaping save to keep Geneva ahead.

At that point the Golden Tornadoes settled back down and regained control of the game, never allowing the Mounties any further chances.  Geneva tried for a third goal to effectively put the game away, but the Golden Tornadoes ultimately saw the game safely out for the 2-1 victory. 

Geneva finished the game with a 12-6 edge in shots, including a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal.  Cottenden was particularly active offensively, accounting for five of Geneva's shots.  Shale made two saves to pick up this third win of the season.

The men will open a three-game homestand on Saturday with a match against Hiram at 7:30 p.m. on Reeves Field.