William Penn Upends Men's Soccer 1-0 in Season Opener
Hastings, NE – The Hastings College men’s soccer team opened up the 2023 campaign against (RV) William Penn dropping a tough 1-0 decision on a balmy night out at Lloyd Wilson Field.
Hastings, NE – The Hastings College men's soccer team opened up the 2023 campaign against (RV) William Penn dropping a tough 1-0 decision on a balmy night out at Lloyd Wilson Field.
The Broncos are showing a lot of new faces having graduated all but one of its starters from a year ago and the Plainsmen took advantage early on in the action.
William Penn's Emre Baris would break through with a shot that Jack Howard saved in the seventh minute only to have the rebound land at the feet of Joseph Kitengie as he put the ball into an open net for the early 1-0 lead.
The Plainsmen would control the game early but the Broncos would begin to even the game out as the first half progressed.
Hastings nearly found the equalizer in the 35th minute when Sandro Rubio hit a header off a corner kick that went just wide as WPU held on to its 1-0 lead into the second half. Here is where the Broncos really began to take control of the game.
William Penn held an 8-4 lead in shots at the break but Hastings would change that in the second half creating a few really good scoring opportunities.
But Howard had to come up with a clutch save in the 55th minute when Edan Sears hit a low shot towards the near post where he reached back picking the ball off the line to keep it a 1-0 lead.
HC continued to put the pressure on as a long ball was handled perfectly by Ayo Makinde in the box but his shot would be saved by Sean Bohan to keep it a 1-0 game in the 66th minute.
Uzayr Lee then thought he had found the equalizer in the 73rd minute as he hit a shot low towards the near post but Bohan did the same as Howard reaching back and pulling the ball off the line to keep it a 1-0 game.
Hastings continued to keep the pressure on but just couldn't find the back of the net dropping the season opener 1-0.
Hastings out shot the Plainsmen 14-11 including 4-3 in shots on goal. The fouls piled up in this game as WPU finished with 23 to just 12 for Hastings while William Penn picked up four yellow cards to two for the Broncos.
Howard finished with three saves.
Hastings falls to 0-1 on the year and will be back in action Saturday Aug. 26 hitting the road to take on Grand View with kickoff set for 4:00 pm out in Des Moines, IA.
