INCLINE VILLAGE, Calif. – After a short two-hour drive up the mountain to the north shore of Lake Tahoe, the Warriors squared off against the men's squad from Sierra Nevada College for the first time in program history. After a series of close contests coming into Saturday, the Warriors finally began to click as they took the match handedly behind a 5-0 victory moving their season record to 2-2-1.
The Warriors came out with an attacking mindset right from the start Saturday. Just 10 minutes into play, Jessup had their first real chance on a free kick from just outside the right edge of the box. Junior Christian Wyatt attempted a shot on target, but Sierra Nevada's defensive wall cleared the ball away.
Jessup's first goal of the day came in the 22nd minute of play. After a foul just outside the edge of the 18-yard box, freshman Conner Entz (Auburn, CA) stepped up to take the free-kick. Entz drove the ball low into the lower-right corner for the first goal of his young collegiate career.
The first half scoring would continue eight minutes later in the 30th minute. Junior Justin Soria (Rocklin, CA) flicked a ball to senior Justin Mitchell (Sacramento, CA) just inside of 18-yards. Mitchell then drove the ball into the back of the net for his first goal as a Warrior.
In the second half, Jessup did not lay off the gas continuing to press in the box. The attacking paid off as the Warriors were awarded a penalty in the 55th minute. Soria stepped up and converted. Just five minutes later, Soria added his second goal of the day on another penalty kick. The goals were his fifth and sixth of the season, tying him for the second-most in the GSAC.
The fifth and final goal of the day for Jessup came in the 81st minute when Entz rocketed in a shot from outside the box for his second goal of the day.
A number of Warriors made their debut in Saturday's win. Sophomores Alexander Aslanian (Whittier, CA), Victor Pacay (Modesto, CA), and Robert Harmelink (Modesto, CA) all entered the match to make their collegiate debut. Junior Jose Hernandez (Ukiah, CA) made his Jessup debut, and sophomore Christian Filbrun (Lincoln, CA) made the first start of his collegiate career.
The win puts the Warriors to 2-2-1 on the season. They will next take the field on Wednesday, Sep., 23 when they play host to Bethesda University of California at Jessup Field. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
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William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook), @WJUSports (Twitter), and @JessupAthletics (Instagram, and Snapchat).
