ELIZABETHTOWN HOLDS ON, EARNS 4-2 WIN OVER SCRAPPY TIGERS

Game Box Score

(September 8, 2007) ELIZABETHTOWN, PA – Hampden-Sydney midfielders JoJo Howard (Lanexa, VA/New Kent) and Jason Butler (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) recorded one goal each, but host Elizabethtown College turned away a valiant Tigers effort to claim a 4-2 victory in the concluding match of the JAKO/Brothers Pizza Blue Jay Classic. Hampden-Sydney held a brief first half lead, but the Blue Jays worked for the equalizer and game winning goal by the 57th minute to secure the win in front of a raucous Elizabethtown crowd of nearly 500.

The Blue Jays wasted little time getting onto the scoreboard, as senior forward Mike Helsel headed in a long throw from defender Zach Galbraith in the first minute. The Tigers would answer in the 21st minute after junior Jason Powell (Marietta, GA/Pope) was taken down in the box by Blue Jays keeper Jeff Mullen. Howard would connect on the penalty kick to even the score at 1-1.

The Tigers would continue to apply great pressure during the remainder of the opening half, and took a 2-1 lead in the 44th minute after freshman midfielder Eamon Penland (Elgin, SC/Spring Valley) slipped the ball between a defender’s legs on the flank and scooted a beautiful through ball to Butler at the corner of the box, who beat Mullen far post for the one goal advantage.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Elizabethtown responded with only 24 seconds remaining in the first half, tying the score at 2-2 when midfielder Steve Petrosky finished a Blue Jays corner by out-leaping Tigers keeper Ben Marchetti (Richmond, VA/Benedictine) for the scoring header.

Elizabethtown pressed hard after the break, and captured their second lead of the match on a Michael Terry volley from 18 yards out. The Tigers gave a courageous effort the rest of the way, but were unable to muster the equalizer.

With the Tigers pushing forward, the Blue Jays were able to conclude their scoring with a George Severini strike with 29 second remaining for the final 4-2 score.

The Tigers received tremendous efforts from their back line. Freshmen Matt Swaney (Potomac Falls, VA/Potomac Falls) and Sam Turner (Richmond, VA/Benedictine) as well as sophomores Michael Carter (Fredericksburg, VA/Massaponax), Brett Chonko (Farmville, VA/Prince Edward) and Christopher Tait (Nokesville, VA/Brentsville) gave solid efforts in the back.

-www.hsc.edu/athletics-