Firebirds Score Early, Often in 4-2 Win Over Lock Haven

Post-Game Interview - Elio Hernandez

WASHINGTON, DC – The University of the District of Columbia men's soccer team's three-game losing streak came to a halt as the Firebirds erupted for four first half goals and cruised to a 4-2 non-conference victory over Lock Haven on a beautiful Friday afternoon in the nation's capital.

UDC improved to 5-3 overall this season with the win while Lock Haven, a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), fell to 2-4.

Four different Firebirds tallied goals today – all of them coming in the first half. Asher Klahold scored for Lock Haven right before the intermission, and Carson O'Neill added a goal with just over a minute left to play in regulation.

Freshman forward Felix Angerer (Business Administration – Bayreuth, Germany/Graj Minster Gymnasium) netted his third goal of the season when he lofted a shot from 20 yards out over the head of out-of-position goalkeeper, Brad Sumski to give the Firebirds an early 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the action.

About 20 minutes later, freshman midfielder Hassirou Diakite (Accounting – Trappes, France/Dumont Durville) headed in his first goal of the season after a cross was sent into the box by freshman defender Zak Eadle (Business Management – Oxford, England/The Oratory) and initially headed by junior defender Atunde Akum (Biology – Beltsville, MD/High Point HS).

Later in the 29^th minute, freshman defender Patrick Borchert (Business Management – Hagen, Germany/Hiedegardis Gymnasium) blasted a direct kick from nearly 30 yards out into the left corner of the net past Sumski for the Firebirds' third goal of the afternoon.  For Borchert, a late addition to the team who has played in five of UDC's eight games, this was his first goal of the season.

Sophomore Elio Hernandez (Health Education – Germantown, MD/Northwest HS) would tally the Firebirds' fourth goal of the day in the 37^th minute. His third goal of the season also came on a direct kick, as he bent a shot from about 20 yards out, around a wall of Bald Eagle defenders that just slipped inside the right corner of the net to give the hosts a commanding, 4-0 advantage.

Lock Haven got a little momentum at halftime when Asher Klahold recovered the rebound of Adam Supplee's saved shot and fired from just seven yards away to put the Bald Eagles on the board with 46 seconds left in the first half.

The Bald Eagles more than doubled up the Firebirds in shots (13-6) in the second half (22-12 for the game) and took four corner kicks to none by UDC, but only managed one more goal in the second half. O'Neill headed in a shot on an empty net after a clear attempt by backup goalkeeper Ever Alvarez was blocked in the 89^th minute of regulation to make the final score, 4-2.

UDC's sophomore goalkeeper Louis Connor made four saves and allowed one goal in 60 minutes of work and earned the victory to improve to 5-3 on the year. Alvarez played the remaining 30 minutes in goal and also made four saves while allowing one goal. Brad Sumski took the loss in goal for Lock Haven with four goals allowed in one half of work. Jonathan Howitt came on in the second half and made three saves while allowing no goals in the final 45 minutes.

The Firebirds, ranked No. 8 in the latest NCSAA East Region poll released this past Tuesday, will have five days rest before their next game on Wednesday, October 2^nd. Wednesday's game vs. Molloy at 4 p.m. marks their first road game of the season. The Firebirds (0-2 ECC) will look to win their first conference game of the season.