BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – For the second consecutive match, the Lock Haven University men's soccer team got a big goal from a rookie and the Bald Eagles upset a top-25 team. Today, freshman
Beckham Sibiski (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown H.S.) scored in the 62
nd minute and the Bald Eagles knocked off No. 22 West Virginia Wesleyan (6-3-1), 1-0 on the road.
On Wednesday (Sept. 27), freshman
Luca Zannoni (Sernaglia Della Battalia, Italy/Marco Casagrande) scored the only goal of the match and the Bald Eagles upset No. 9 and previously unbeaten Millersville, 1-0. The win marked LHU's first win over a top-25 team since 2011.
With the win today, Lock Haven improved to 6-2-3 overall.
After Lock Haven and West Virginia Wesleyan went into halftime deadlocked at 0-0, Sibiski provided the game's only goal – his team-leading fourth of the season – in the 62
nd minute.
Sibiski is one of several true-freshmen who have been nothing short of fantastic this season and through the first 11 matches of the season, the youth movement has been a big part of the story behind the Bald Eagles success. Eleven of Lock Haven's 20 goals scored this season have come from freshmen.
Ben Wilson (Boswell, Pa./Conemaugh Township) was credited with the assist on Sibiski's goal. Wilson, a junior, has been a key substitute for LHU and today was no different as he picked up the helper on the contest's only goal. Wilson's strong midfield-play also set up only goal in Wednesday's thrilling upset of Millersville.
Senior goalkeeper
Troy Teresak (Pompton Plains, N.J./DePaul Catholic) was brilliant and finished with 10 saves as he recorded his second straight shutout vs. a nationally-ranked team.
After back-to-back 1-0 wins over nationally-ranked teams, LHU second-year head coach
Patrick Long was quick to credit the defensive unit. All season, despite several new faces in-and-out of the starting rotation, the group has been organized, calm and dominant. Today was more of the same as all the defenders were on top of their game in a full 90-minute effort.
The Bald Eagles will return to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action on Wednesday (Oct. 4) at rival East Stroudsburg University (6:30 p.m.).