Berkeley Rallies Past Brandywine In Opener

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine built a 2-0 lead at the half, but Berkeley College (N.Y.) scored three times during the final 32 minutes, twice on penalty kicks, to knock off the Lions 3-2 in both teams' men's soccer season opener on Friday afternoon.

The loss ended Brandywine's 16-match winning streak it carried into the season following its USCAA national championship run in 2018. The Lions also suffered a home setback for the first time in 17 matches dating back to September 21, 2017.

Stevie DiSipio (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) started the scoring during the 13th minute as he touched in a cross from Alex Lopez (Toughkenamon, Pa./Kennett).

Eleven minutes later, Lopez was on the receiving end of a crossing pass, this one from Nathan Bowman (York, Pa./York Suburban), and Lopez found the back of the net for his first collegiate goal and a 2-0 Brandywine edge.

The score remained the same until the 69th minute when a hand ball led to a penalty kick goal for Berkeley. Jean-Gardy Derineau netted his second goal of the match at the 74:35 mark and then completed his hat trick with a second successful penalty with just over five minutes remaining in regulation.

Brandywine goalkeeper Juan Guerrero (Kennett Square, Pa./Kennett) stopped five shots over 90 minutes for the Lions. Brandywine tallied 11 shots with four coming off the foot of Lopez and three from Axel Ayllon-Ortiz (Kennett Square, Pa./Kennett).

Brandywine (0-1) is on the road Wednesday at Rosemont at 4:00 pm.