Brandywine Knocks Off Berkeley 3-2 In USCAA Pool Play Opener

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Third-seeded Penn State Brandywine upended No. 2 Berkeley College 3-2 during its opening game of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Soccer Tournament Saturday evening.

Brandywine is now one victory away from playing for its second national championship in three seasons. The 2018 USCAA National Champion, Brandywine faces Penn State New Kensington Sunday at 2:15 PM during its final pool play game.

The Lions built a 2-0 lead at halftime and held off a comeback bid from Berkeley late in the second half.

Axel Ayllon-Ortiz (Kennett Square, Pa./Kennett) got the scoring started in the 21st minute as he collected a rebound following a blocked shot and found the back of the net for the third time this fall.

Just over nine minutes later, Brandywine doubled its lead to 2-0 when Ethan Pace (Stowe, Pa./Pottsgrove) blasted a long shot from the right side of the field over the outstretched arms of Berkeley goalkeeper Dawid Mroz.

Brandywine held Berkeley scoreless until the 58th minute as the Knights drew within one on an own goal by the Lions.

National goal-scoring leader Alex Sydor (White Plains, N.Y./Ardsley) pushed the margin back to two goals at the 60:59 mark. He took a pass from Raymond Kelly (Middletown, Del./Middletown) and drove home his 26th marker of the year.

Berkeley responded almost immediately, scoring 45 seconds after Sydor's goal, to draw back within one; however, Brandywine's defense tightened up, allowing just one shot on goal the rest of the way, which was turned aside by net minder John Simpson (Philadelphia, Pa./Franklin Towne Charter).

Overall, Simpson stopped five shots, earning his eighth win of the season. Both teams registered five shots on goal.

Sunday's game against New Kensington is a rematch of an Oct. 23 regular-season match, which Brandywine claimed by an 11-0 count. The Lions must defeat New Kensington to advance to Monday's title match.