Brandywine Tops Dickinson In Season Opener

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine scored 35 seconds into the 2022 season and successfully defended its home field with a 2-1 victory over Dickinson College in non-conference men's soccer action Thursday evening.

Chris Manful (Baltimore, Md./Woodlawn) recorded the early marker for the Lions, who won for the 18th-straight time on their home field.

Lex Smith (Centreville, Va./Casa Grande) found Manful in front and despite being prodded by a defender, Manful beat Dickinson netminder Andrew Kempe for the season's opening tally.

Dickinson found the equalizer at the 30:17 mark of the first half as Chaz Smith deposited a penalty kick and the teams entered the break even at 1-1.

Just over 10 minutes into the second half, Brandywine once again took the lead, this time for good. After Manful was hauled down in the box, Alexis Cordova Bernal (Oxford, Pa./Avon Grove) netted a penalty kick to put the Lions on top 2-1.

Dickinson made a final push, recording a pair of shots on goal during the final minutes, but William Manarpaac (Boerne, Texas/Samuel V. Champion) was up to the task stopping both shots.

Manarpaac played the final 16:55 in net in relief of Elijah DeBooth (Reading, Pa./Wilson). DeBooth stopped four first-half shots and earned the win.

Brandywine is on the road for the first time this fall on Thursday at New Jersey City at 7:30 PM.