Men's Soccer Off to Hot Start

The Paul Smith's College men's soccer team is off to its best start since 2013 and has been turning heads in the conference and in the region in the process.  Undefeated through the first five games of the season, this team looks like an even more lethal version of the one that made a run in the YSCC playoffs last season.  Freshman newcomers Nick Grover (Batavia, NY), Jake Lewis (Niskyuna, NY), Foster Hutchins (Enosburg Falls, VT), and Kagan Hance (Chester, VT) have all contributed on and off the score sheet, with big minutes being played between them. 

The Bobcats headed to Vermont in early September to compete against a tandem of NCAA Division III schools, with a tie at the NVU Lyndon Hornets on Saturday, September 3^rd and a win the following day against the NVU Johnson Badgers.  The scoreless tie Saturday in a dominating performance against the Hornets motivated the Bobcats Sunday against the Badgers.  The two teams left it all on the field in a pound-for-pound slugfest in Johnson, VT which resulted in two ejections, 8 cautions (5 for NVU Johnson, 3 for PSC), and 45 total fouls (25 for NVU Johnson, 20 for PSC).   

Tyler Vogle (Fort Plain, NY) got the scoring started in the 17^th minute on an absolute missile from 40 yards out.  The Badgers would get one back at 24:28, but the Bobcats recaptured the lead 10 minutes later when Foster Hutchins connected on a beautiful set piece from Jake Lewis.  Paul Smith's College would play a man-down for the next 40 minutes, as Vogle was sent off for collecting two yellow cards in 10 minutes.  The Badgers would go down to 10 men as well in the 79^th minute, as Dylan Haskins also collected his 2^nd yellow caution of the game.  The Bobcats sealed it in the 84^th minute as Nick Grover deflected a header into the netting on a nice cross from Tim Romero (Pueblo, CO).  Senior Goalkeeper Steven Donnelly (Geneseo, NY) ended the day with 8 saves on 9 shots. 

The Paul Smith's College men's soccer team traveled to Bryant & Stratton Albany on September 7^th and collected a win against the USCAA Division I Bobcats.  In this Bobcat vs. Bobcat matchup, goalkeeper Steven Donnelly was the deciding force, shutting out the home team with 15 saves.  Seniors Noel Diaz (Silver Spring, MD) and Samuel Finger (Canandaigua, NY) each scored goals for Paul Smith's College, and the game ended 2-0 in favor of the visitors. 

PSC then hosted the Hampshire College Black Sheep on Sunday, September 11^th in a tune up for league play.  Eight different Bobcats scored for the home squad, as a crushing performance turned into a full-on rout.  Nick Grover continued his impressive freshman campaign with a brace, while Treyantae Leak (Troy, NY), Alex Cameron (Westport, MA), Wyatt Beckingham (Old Forge, NY), Ryan Jones (Wallingford,VT), Savien Richards (Pittsford, NY), Jake Lewis, and Noel Diaz all added goals.  Dalton Tenorio (Crestview, FL) contributed with two assists while Marvis Nosa (Bronx, NY), Alex Cameron, Foster Hutchins, Wyatt Beckingham, and Nick Grover had solo helpers. 

Head Coach Zack Luzzi is pleased with the performances of his team, and when asked about the early season success said the following.  "We're off to a great start.  I'm proud of the guys and the work they've been putting in, we've had some freshmen step up and fill big roles for us, and with the senior leadership they've been able to pull out some big wins - a come from behind win with ACC and a 3-1 win over NVU Johnson a man down for 60 minutes."  The first game of the season was a home opener in front of 300+ fans against SUNY ADK where the Bobcats trailed 2-0 early in the first half, but pulled some late game heroics out of the hat and won 3-2.  "I'm excited to see this team develop as the season moves ahead." 

The team hosts NHTI on Saturday, September 17^th at 2pm to open up YSCC league play.  Come out and support the men's soccer team as they battle the Lynx at the PSC soccer field!