Cordova Bernal Nets Championship-Winning Goal; Brandywine Claims Fifth-Straight PSUAC Title
| Final | 1 | 2 | OT | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Penn State Lehigh Valley (1-2-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Penn State Brandywine (3-0-0) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Freshman Alexis Cordova Bernal (Oxford, Pa./Avon Grove) scored the game-winning goal 5:44 into overtime as the top-seeded Penn State Brandywine men's soccer team topped Penn State Lehigh Valley 1-0 to capture their fifth-straight Penn State University Athletic Conference championship Wednesday evening.
Cordova Bernal collected his eighth goal of the year to hand the Lions their seventh title during the last eight seasons. Brandywine, now undefeated in 65-straight matches against PSUAC opponents, earned the conference's automatic bid to the USCAA National Championship and will play for the team's second national title beginning next week in Virginia Beach.
After a scoreless 90 minutes sent the teams to extra time, Brandywine scored on its first shot during overtime. A hand ball just outside the box set Brandywine up with a free kick. Alex Sydor's (White Plains, N.Y./Ardsley) shot was blocked, but Cordova Bernal cleaned up the rebound, sending a shot along the ground and into the left corner of the net for the golden goal.
Lions' net minder Elijah DeBooth (West Lawn, Pa./Wilson) stopped all eight shots he faced to record his second shutout of the season. DeBooth's top save of the night came during the 82nd minute when he turned away Jerod Younes on the doorstep to preserve the scoreless tie.
Brandywine earned its ninth shutout in 12 matches against PSUAC opponents this fall and 13th clean sheet overall.
Lehigh Valley goalkeeper Kenneth Dyer was nearly as good as DeBooth, making 13 saves, including nine during the first half. Brandywine pressured Dyer late during the opening half, hitting the post with a shot before another at point blank range was blocked by a Lehigh Valley defender.
Brandywine (16-3-3) will be the No. 3 in the USCAA Tournament, which begins Nov. 13. The Lions open play Saturday in Virginia Beach against No. 2 Berkeley at 4:45 PM. Pool play continues Sunday against Penn State New Kensington, which Brandywine defeated 11-0 earlier this fall.
