Goucher Men's Soccer Falls Short In Season Opener

BALTIMORE, Md. – Goucher College had some good runs at the goal in the season opener in a 2-1 loss to DeSales University in non-conference men's soccer season-opening action on Friday.

Yaya Diabagate (Hyattsville, Md./International HS at Langley Park) found the twine for the Gophers off a Drew List (Towson, Md./Calvert Hall College HS) assist. It was Diabagate's first career goal in his collegiate debut while it was List's second career helper.

Cole Judkins (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) made one save, but it was an acrobatic stop in the first half for Goucher. The sophomore played in two matches last season in between the pipes before starting the 2019 season opener.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute. Matt Gilley (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point) had the best chance in the opening 45 minutes, but missed wide in the 34th minute

The Gophers had some good runs with Brandon Cohen (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union) trying to connect with Aidan Spoor (Milton, Del./Cape Henlopr) on a pair of offensive chances before Diabagate tied the game at 1 at the 61:44 mark.

The standstill did not last three minutes before DeSales retook the lead for good at 64:37.

Goucher had three corner kicks and two shots the rest of the way. Matthew Malhenzie (Etters, Pa./Red Land) missed wide in the 69th minute while Spoor missed high on a penalty kick in the 77th minute for the squad's final scoring chance.

Diabagate, Malhenzie, Xavier Dever (Hollywood, Md./Leionardtown), Isaiah Perry (West Hartford, Conn./Hall) and Pach Odolla (Baltomore, Md./Baltimore City College HS) made their collegiate debut in the loss.

It's a short turnaround with the team returning to action on Saturday at Beldon Field against Neumann University. Game time is 5 p.m.