Gophers Blank Wilkes, Wrap Up Landmark Tourney Berth
October 28, 2023
EDWARDSVILLE, Pa. - The Goucher College men's soccer team wrapped up its second straight berth to the Landmark Conference Championship as it blanked Wilkes University 3-0 Saturday afternoon at Bruggeworth Field. The Gophers (9-6-2, 4-4-1 Landmark) will be the No. 6 seed and travel to third-seeded Elizabethtown for a first round game Tuesday (10/31) at 7 pm.
- It took less than a minute for the Gophers to get on the board as Gus Dalzell scored his second goal of the season.
- Michael Adekanmbi slid a short pass over to Dalzell who one-timed it from 12 yards out to give the Gophers an early lead.
- Adekanmbi had a shot saved by Wilkes (4-8-5, 1-5-2) goalie Nick Kinzler five minutes later.
- Bobby Beringer increased Goucher's lead to 2-0 just shy of the 19-minute mark with his fourth goal of the campaign.
- Following a goal kick, Kinzler was making a pass to a Wilkes player and Beringer snuck in and knocked the ball in off his back heel and in.
- Elliot Bezdek rang a shot off the crossbar three minutes before halftime.
- Kinzler stopped back-to-back shots by Adekanmbi and Jeremiah Odubade two minutes into the second half.
- Paul Van Engeland made it 3-0 for the Gophers in the 68th minute as he scored his second goal of the season.
- Adekanmbi played a ball from the left that a charging Van Engeland knocked in from point blank range to increase the lead.
- Goucher goalie Ale Sternini made a pair of saves with seven minutes to go.
- Goucher outshot Wilkes 16-11, with both teams taking four corner kicks.
- Sternini made a pair of saves en route to his second straight shutout and fourth of the season, while Kinzler recorded five saves.
- Beringer led Goucher with four shots.
- Goucher is making its second straight Landmark tournament appearance and third in program history. The Gophers will also be facing Elizabethtown for the second straight season.
- Goucher edged the Blue Jays 1-0 at home last Saturday.
- The Gophers are assured of finishing above .500 for the second straight year, the first time that has happened in back-to-back seasons since 2013 and 2014.