The Union Garnet Chargers kicked off against the Ithaca Bombers last Friday, Oct. 13. With this match being a battle of two Liberty League teams, the tensions were high from the blow of the first whistle. This game was also men’s soccers’ athlete for athlete game as fans lined up to watch the game sporting the “blackout” theme.
The game started off with scrappy play from both teams. Both sides were hungry to get the first goal of the game and put their respective teams ahead. The first half consisted of a back and forth fight from both teams to try and score. Eventually, with about three minutes left in the half, Union senior Kurt Mahlke netted the first goal of the game.
The ball was served from the corner by sophomore Lucas Montalto where it was sent into the massive crowd of Union and Ithaca players all trying to get a touch on the ball. Out of the scrap came Mahlke with a strike into the back of the net giving the Garnet Chargers a 1-0 lead heading into the half.
Stepping onto the field for the second half, the Ithaca Bombers were desperate for a goal to tie up the game. With 11 shots on net in the second half from Ithaca it was a much more Ithaca dominated half. Luckily, first year goalie Paul Agne came to play. With a career high five saves and eight goals stopped, Agne helped protect the Garnet Chargers net and keep Union in the lead.
Unfortunately, as the Bombers kept pelting shots on Agne, they eventually got one to slip in. About 15 minutes into the second half, Ithaca fifth year Brendan Lebitsch put one in for Ithaca off of a corner kick that came from senior Reefe Harrison.
With a little over 30 minutes left in the game, the score was tied up at 1-1. Union fans screamed and cheered on their Union Garnet Chargers hoping that somehow they would pull ahead on Ithaca. About 10 minutes after Ithaca tied it up, Union first year Noah Goldstein was able to find the back of the net.
With this goal being Goldstein’s first collegiate goal, he was able to put Union in the lead. The crowd went crazy as the players ran to celebrate in the corner. Goldstein was able to knock it in off a corner from Montalto. As time winded down, Ithaca gave it everything they had to try and tie it back up. Fortunately, Union was able to defend their net and ended up winning the match 2-1.
With this win over Ithaca it gave the Union Garnet Chargers their first victory against the Bombers in 32 years. Union is now 7-5-2 and holds second place in the Liberty League behind the dominant Hobart team. They look to keep up this success throughout the rest of the season.
