Usher Nets Three; Brandywine Tops Mont Alto 9-0

MEDIA, Pa. -- Mike Usher (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) scored three times as the Penn State Brandywine men's soccer team downed Penn State Mont Alto 9-0 during its first Penn State University Athletic Conference match on Wednesday night.

Usher gave Brandywine a 1-0 lead at the 15:26 mark when he dribbled through three defenders and beat Mont Alto goalie Jared Adam to the far corner for his first goal of the year. His second goal came with 13 minutes to play in the first half after Brad Jule (Chadds Ford, Pa./Salesianum) sent him past the defense with a long lead pass.

Usher's two goals were sandwiched around scores from Jule and Bill Walleekendeh (Chester, Pa./Chester) as Jule headed in a serve from Trevin Jones (Springfield, Pa./The Christian Academy) and Walleekendeh found the back of the net for the sixth time this season. He would later add his seventh goal midway through the second half.

Josh Burton (West Chester, Pa./PA Cyber Charter) and Anthony Neufville (Wallingdale, Pa./Christ Academy) also tallied first half goals as Brandywine led 6-0 after 45 minutes.

Usher finished off his hat trick at the 56:54 mark, while Pat Evans (Wayne, Pa./Conestoga) capped the scoring in the 68th minute.

"I thought our guys did a great job to take care of business in our first conference game. I'm proud of that fact that we had a full-team contribution. Our depth will help us down the line as we move toward October," said first-year head coach Jesse Zafiratos following the win.

Usher totaled seven points during the game as he added an assist on Neufville's tally, while Jones and Jule both provided a pair of helpers.

Brandywine outshot Mont Alto 27-3 and goalkeeper Joe Opdenaker (Lenni, Pa./The Christian Academy) stopped each shot he faced to record his second shutout.

The Lions (2-1, 1-0 PSUAC) return home Thursday afternoon to face Valley Forge at 4:00 pm.