Gophers Forge 1-1 Tie With Cairn in Season Debut

TOWSON, Md. - Senior Michael Adekanmbi's goal just over 13 minutes into the second half lifted the Goucher College men's soccer to a 1-1 tie with Cairn University in the season opener for both schools Friday evening at Beldon Field.

• Cairn (0-0-1) had the game's first shot on goal just over four minutes in that was saved by Goucher (0-0-1) junior goalie Ale Sternini.
• Just past the 20-minute mark, Jesse Brittain scored for the Highlanders to put them in front 1-0.
• Gustave Dalzell put a shot on frame two minutes later that was saved by Xander Jakeway.
• Sternini had three more saves the remainder of the half, while Cairn had another shot that rang off the crossbar.

• Four minutes into the second half, Paul Van Engeland put a header on goal that was stopped by Jakeway.
• Sternini made a save on a header in the 54th minute.
• In the 59th minute, Adekanmbi took a long cross-field pass from Van Engeland and beat Jakeway low and to his left to tie the match 1-1.
• Will Frasier had a shot on goal with just over 25 minutes left that was handled by Jakeway.
• The Highlanders had three corner kicks in the game's final moments but were unable to come up with the go-ahead goal.

• Cairn held a 15-9 shot advantage on the evening and took seven of the game's nine corner kicks.
• Sternini recorded seven saves, while Jakeway notched four stops.
• Cairn and Goucher opened against each other for the fourth straight season, with those meetings tied 1-1-2.  The two teams have played every season since 2015, with the Gophers holding a 5-2-2 lead in the series.
• Both teams reached their respective conference semifinals last season, with the Gophers making the Landmark semifinals and the Highlanders reaching the United East semis.

• Goucher is on the road Sunday, making the quick trip to Notre Dame (Md.) University for a 2 pm kickoff.
• The Gophers return home next Saturday, September 7, hosting McDaniel in a 1 pm contest at Beldon Field.