BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – For the first time in almost three years, the Geneva College men's soccer team came up on the wrong side of the scoreline in a regular season Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) match, and it came in heartbreaking fashion. The Golden Tornadoes' tremendous run came to an end in frustrating fashion when, despite controlling most of their game on Saturday afternoon against Allegheny on Reeves Field, Geneva couldn't convert enough chances and saw Allegheny score with seven seconds left to stun the Golden Tornadoes, 2-1. Geneva dropped to 3-6-1 overall, 2-1-1 in the PAC.
Neither team generated many chances in the first 20 minutes as both teams settled in. Geneva started to take control midway through the first half, though, and the Golden Tornadoes broke through in the 31st minute. Senior Wil Dunda sent a ball into the box that sophomore Adam Thompson headed down to senior Noah Dworakowski, and Dworakowski slammed the ball into the net from five yards out to get Geneva on the board.
Allegheny pulled level, though, against the run of play, with under five minutes left when Ransom Perkins was left alone on the back post, and he converted his opportunity off a cross to send the game into the halftime break level at 1-1.
Geneva dominated most of the second half. Sophomore Luke Main almost scored five minutes into the half when he was put through on goal, but Allegheny keeper Cadan Bennett came up big to deflect his shot wide.
Allegheny struggled to put together much possession or generate many chances, and Geneva kept pushing. Ten minutes after Main's chance, freshman Travis Miller was left alone on the back post on a Geneva cross, but Bennett came up huge again with a fingertip save on Miller's header that appeared ticketed for the back of the net.
The Golden Tornadoes had a couple more good chances over the final 20 minutes, but just as it appeared like the match was headed for a draw, Allegheny struck. The Gators earned a free kick 30 yards from goal with ten seconds remaining. The clock was stopped to allow Allegheny one final chance, and the Gators' Will Gruca lofted a long ball into the box that floated into the corner of the net to give Allegheny the stunning victory, 2-1.
Geneva finished with a 13-5 edge in shots and a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks. Unfortunately, Allegheny converted two of its three shots on goal into scores to steal away the victory. Main and senior George Cottenden led the team with three shots apiece.
The men will try to rebound from the frustrating loss when Geneva travels to Saint Vincent on Wednesday for a 7:00 p.m. match.
Through purposeful learning in a community reflecting the full spectrum of God's kingdom, a Geneva College experience inspires students to discover a faith-life calling in service to God and neighbor. Offering 195+ traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality and affordability. Geneva was founded and is governed by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) and is a founding member of both the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the International Association for Christian Education (IACE).
