Brandywine Hosts Beaver In PSUAC Men’s Soccer Semifinals Saturday

MEDIA, Pennsylvania -- After rolling through the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference regular season with an unblemished 8-0 record, Penn State Brandywine will look to continue the momentum it created as it opens the PSUAC Men's Soccer Tournament with a semifinal match against fourth-seeded Penn State Beaver at 6:00 pm on Saturday at Strath Haven High School [205 South Providence Rd, Wallingford, PA 19086].

The Lions (10-7, 8-0), who claimed last season's PSUAC championship for the first time since 1989, have won 12-straight matches against league competition dating back to last season. Included among those victories was a 3-2, double-overtime triumph at Beaver on Sept. 20.

Despite traveling to Beaver with just 15 healthy players, Brandywine came out on top thanks to freshman Patrick Lutes' (Drexel Hill, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) two-goal game, the second of which came during the 112th minute as the overtime winner.

Lutes is Brandywine's second-leading scorer this fall as he has accumulated 11 goals and seven assists for 29 total points. Sophomore Bill Walleekendeh (Chester, Pa./Chester) owns the team and conference scoring lead, while ranking third in the USCAA with 49 total points (22G, 5A). Walleekendeh has paced the streaking Lions with 15 goals during the team's last four matches, all victories.

The Brandywine defense has also been stout throughout the fall, allowing just 10 goals in eight conference games, the second-lowest total in the league. The Lions' three-goalkeeper rotation has produced a 2.26 goals-against average and 89 saves.

Beaver advanced to the semifinals following a 2-0 shutout of Greater Allegheny on Wednesday. Brandon Golonka gave Beaver the lead during the 17th minute and Marcus Smith tallied an insurance goal midway through the second half, while net minder Matt Cottage stopped all three shots he faced for his first collegiate shutout.

Smith, Beaver's goal-scoring leader, ranks third in the PSUAC with 18 tallies and 42 total points.

Brandywine and Beaver will be meeting in the PSUAC Tournament for the second consecutive year. Brandywine knocked off Beaver 5-1 in the conference title match at University Park in 2013 following a three-goal outburst from Walleekendeh as Brandywine hoisted the PSUAC championship trophy for the first time since 1989.

The winner of Saturday's semifinal match will earn a spot in the PSUAC championship game, which will be held Wednesday at University Park beginning at 7:00 pm. No. 2 York and No. 3 New Kensington will square off in Saturday's additional semifinal game.