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2008 Game Recaps

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SVC Soccer
8/30 - Case Western

The Bearcats fought hard but lost to #22 ranked Case Western Reserve in the season opener on the road.

The game was scoreless until late in the first half when the hosts took a 1-0 lead.  Case added a goal in the second half to drop the Bearcats to an 0-1 start on the season.

8/31 - Hiram

The Bearcats were defeated 6-0 by Hiram College at the season-opening Case Western Reserve tournament in Cleveland, OH.

It was the second loss in as many days for the Bearcats, as they opened the tourney with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of 22nd-ranked Case Western on Friday night.

9/3 - Seton Hill

The Bearcats suffered a 2-1 defeat on the road at the hands of the Seton Hill University Griffins.

The goalie tandem of Gabe Cooper and Brandon Bower combined for 12 saves, while Luis Rodriguez scored his first goal of the season, but it wasn't enough, as the Bearcat losing streak extends to three games.

Seton Hill got on the board early, converting an odd man break into a goal just eight minutes in.

The game was then back and forth, until the Bearcats got the ball deep into Griffin territory, drawing a Seton Hill foul.  On the ensuing direct kick, Rodriguez was able to bend the shot around the wall and into the corner of the net to tie the game at one with just under 30 minutes left in the half.

The Griffin offense then began to mount increasing pressure, and looked to have a prime scoring chance on an odd man break just moments after Rodriguez's goal.  Cooper, however, ranged far out of the net, and was able to get his body in front of the shot to keep the game tied.

Seton Hill continued to put pressure on the Bearcat defense, earning five corner kicks over the final 25 minutes of the half.  SVC was able to withstand the pressure.  Brandon Bower, in for the injured Cooper, proved just as effective, making a trio of saves in the final moments of the first stanza.

Play was even in the first part of the second half, with the ball staying in the middle third of the field for the duration, until the 26-minute mark, when the Griffins cashed in on a scramble in front of the net to go up 2-1.

The Bearcats then attempted to mount a rally, getting deep into Seton Hill territory a number of times, but were unable to get many scoring opportunities, forcing a number of balls wide.

Bower continued to keep the Bearcats close, making a trio of sprawling saves from close range, but the SVC offense was unable to tie the contest up.

9/7 - Juniata

The Bearcats scored two quick goals, and then were able to hold off Juniata, defeating the visiting Golden Eagles 2-1.

Saint Vincent started quickly, with Luis Rodriguez burying a rebound to put the Bearcats up 1-0 just five minutes into play.

The Bearcats then built onto the lead just two minutes later.  Rodriguez got the ball at the top of the box, and sent a quick pass toward Dave Lauteri, streaking toward the net, and the senior one-touched it in to give SVC a two goal advantage.

Juniata then went on the attack, putting relentless pressure on the Bearcat defense.  SVC goalie Brandon Bower stood strong, making a number of key saves throughout the first half, including a pair of point blank reaction stops at the 30 minute mark. 

The Bearcats took the 2-0 lead into the intermission, despite being outshot 11-9.  Bower made six saves over the first 45 minutes, while the Bearcat defensed blocked four additional shots.

Just as the Bearcats came out soaring in the first half, the Golden Eagles seized the momentum right out of intermission, with Aaron Bray scoring just a minute into the second half, assisted by Noah Bowers.

Juniata continued to try to press, but the Bearcat defenders were able to keep the Golden Eagle offense at bay, either blocking or forcing a number of Juniata shots wide, as just three of their 12 shots in the second half reached Bower.

Saint Vincent was unable to add an insurance tally in the second half, managing only three shots, but the Bearcat defense made the lead stand, and SVC earned its first win of the season.

The Bearcats ended up being outshot by a 23-12 margin, with Bower finishing with nine saves.  Juniata keeper Joe Kohler made four saves in the losing effort.

9/10 - Pitt-Greensburg

The Bearcats allowed just six shots in their 2-0 home victory over the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Bobcats.

Saint Vincent used some good fortune to tally its first goal of the game.  Just under 14 minutes into play, Bearcat forward Christian Ricci sent a shot toward goal, and it was deflected into the net by a UPG defender for an own goal.

With the 1-0 lead the Bearcat offense continued to push, getting a number of balls deep into UPG territory, but were unable to cash in, as just three of their 10 shots in the half were on goal.

The Bearcats continued to put pressure on the UPG defense in the early stages of the second half, while the Bearcat midfield and defense continually smothered any Bobcat breaks.

SVC finally got an insurance goal in the 68th minute after a corner kick.  The Bearcats had control of the ball inside the box, with two shots being blocked at close range.  The third time was the charm for SVC, as Dave Lauteri sent in a shot that initially appeared to be blocked by a UPG defender, but it was ruled that the Bobcat player got a piece of the ball while it was actually in the net, resulting in a goal.

The Bobcats then attempted to press, getting their lone scoring chance of the half in the 76th minute, when Jake Wehar sent in a blast from the corner of the box.  SVC goalie Brandon Bower was up to the task, making a sprawling save.  

With the two-goal lead, the Bearcat defense went back to work.  Bearcat defenders Ben Skvarca, Ibra Fancher, and Andy Bianco continually thwarted any Bobcat pressure, repeatedly stripping the Bobcat forwards and sending the ball to safety. 

The SVC center midfielders, Lauteri and Matt Fecik, also controlled play effectively, dribbling past defenders and sending the ball into the offensive zone.

For the game, SVC outshot Pitt-Greensburg 26-5, and owned a 14-3 advantage in shots on goal.  The Bearcats finished with 12 corners, while the Bobcats took just two.

Bower stopped all three shots his way for his second win and first shutout of the season, while Pitt-Greensburg keeper Brian Daniel made 11 saves in the losing effort.

9/13 - Pitt-Bradford

The Bearcats clicked on all cylinders in their 7-1 win over the visiting University of Pitt-Bradford Panthers.

Rick Fec scored the first two goals of his collegiate career, while Luis Rodriguez found the net three times, as the Bearcats outshot the Panthers 35-18 on a rain-soaked Bearcat Field.

Fec started the day's scoring 17 minutes into play, taking a pass from midfielder Matt Fecik and streaking 30 yards downfield, lofting the shot over the goalie to give SVC a 1-0 lead.

At the 28-minute mark, Fec gave SVC a 2-0 advantage on almost a carbon copy of his earlier goal, this time taking the pass from Ben Skvarca.

Two minutes later, the Bearcats set up for a corner kick.  Jim Vargo lofted the ball into the box, and Dave Lauteri blasted a shot from three yards out.  Pitt-Bradford's goalie made the initial save, but the long rebound caromed out to Vargo at the top of the box.  He then floated the ball in the top of the net for his first goal of the season, putting SVC up 3-0.

The Bearcats added on in the final minutes of the first half.  A UPG foul gave SVC a direct kick, and Lauteri sent the ball wide.  Rodriguez picked it up, but was blocked right on the doorstep.  The rebound then went to Kevin Hunter, who buried the shot for his first collegiate goal, giving the Bearcats a 4-0 halftime advantage.

The first half was one of dominance for SVC, as the Bearcats outshot the Panthers 17-3, with nine of their shots on goal.

Pitt-Bradford opened the second half with momentum, posting nine shots in the first 15 minutes.  SVC keeper Gabe Cooper made five saves, while the Panthers twice hit the post before finally finding the board in the game's 72nd minute. A handball in front of the net gave UPB a penalty kick, converted by Toby Abdul-Raziq to make the score 4-1.

Saint Vincent quickly snuffed any thought of a Panther comeback, with Rodriguez taking over.  The junior scored his first goal of the contest with 16 minutes left to play, sending a low shot from 15-yards out into the corner of the net.

Just 50 seconds later, Rodriguez scored his second of the afternoon, assisted by Fec.  Rodriguez then wrapped up the day's scoring in the 82nd minute, burying the ball in front off of a Vargo assist.

Cooper was strong in goal for SVC, finishing with nine saves, including seven in the second half, in his first game back after a two-week absence due to injury.

For the game, the Bearcats outshot the Panthers 35-18, with UPB goalie Dale Quinlan making 11 saves in the losing effort.

9/20 - Marietta

The Bearcats lost a 3-2 decision on the road at Marietta College in Ohio.

Just 23 seconds into the first half, Marietta scored to take a 1-0 lead, but the Bearcats fought back.  Luis Rodriguez was tripped inside the box, resulting in a penalty kick, and he tied the game with the shot at the six minute mark.

Dave Lauteri then gave the Bearcats the lead later in the first half on a ball that was bobbled by the Marietta keeper.

Late in the second half, Saint Vincent made a pair of defensive mistakes that led to two Marietta goals, sending the Bearcats to a 3-2 defeat.

9/23 - Frostburg State

The Bearcats lost a tough game on the road to Frostburg State in overtime, 2-1.

Frostburg scored with 20 seconds left in the first half against Bearcat keeper Jake Gilbertson, who played well in relief of Gabe Cooper, who left after 42 minutes with an injury.

SVC tied the game on a penalty kick by Luis Rodriguez in the second half, but Frostburg tallied the gamewinner midway through the first overtime period.

9/26 - Carnegie Mellon

Carnegie Mellon University handed the Bearcats their third straight loss, 3-0, in Pittsburgh.  The Tartans outshot SVC, 16-3 on the game.  CMU led 1-0 at the half and added a pair of second half goals to seal the win.

9/28 - Lycoming

The Bearcats faced a tough Lycoming College team and came away with a hard-earned 1-0 victory at Chuck Noll Field.

The teams battled through a scoreless first half thanks to strong defense.  Ibra Fancher and Matt Fecik played well for the Bearcats, as Fecik dropped to the back line to replace Andy Bianco, who did not play due to an injury.  

In the second half, Ben Fecik found Luis Rodriguez breaking through the defense just 6 minutes into play, and Rodriguez planted a shot into the upper right corner past Lycoming keeper David Bald to give SVC a 1-0 advantage.  

From there, the defense took over again, including freshman goalkeeper Jake Gilbertson, who was making his first career start.  Gilbertson made six saves, all in the second half, including several from point-blank range to earn the victory.

On the day, Lycoming outshot Saint Vincent 16-9.

9/30 - Baldwin Wallace

The visiting Baldwin-Wallace Yellow Jackets, ranked seventh in the country, defeated the Bearcats 3-1 at Chuck Noll Field.

The game started off evenly, with the two teams each tallying four shots in the first 20 minutes.  Baldwin-Wallace then seized the momentum, keeping the ball deep in SVC territory.  At the 20 mark, after a pair of shots went wide, BW's Jim Synk got the ball on the doorstep and knocked it into the goal off of a diving SVC defender to go up 1-0.

Baldwin-Wallace scored its second goal of the game just 10 minutes later.  After a corner, the Yellow Jackets again had the ball deep in the Bearcat end.  SVC couldn't clear it, and B-W's Cory Weidner controlled the bouncing ball from 10 yards out and sent a blast past SVC keeper Jacob Gilbertson.

The Bearcats' had a prime chance to get on the scoreboard in the 38th minute, when Luis Rodriguez sent in a rocket from the top of the 18.  B-W keeper Zach Ryman ranged far out of his net, and was able to snag Rodriguez's shot from just 10 feet away.

SVC's defense was able to keep it a two-goal game, but the Bearcat offense couldn't find the net.  The Yellow Jacket's then scored their third and final goal of the afternoon with 19 minutes left, off the foot of Carlin Vanderndriesshe. 

SVC scored its lone tally of the game with exactly a minute remaining.  Rodriguez led an odd-man rush down the field, and as defenders converged on him, he sent a touch pass to the top of the box on the waiting foot of Rick Fec who directed it into the open goal.

Baldwin-Wallace out-shot SVC 30-15 on the day, and Gilbertson was strong in goal for the Bearcats, posting 10 saves.  The Yellow Jackets also owned the advantage in corner kicks, 9-6.

10/3 - Waynesburg

Despite out-shooting the Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets 24-10, the Bearcats were defeated 2-1 at Chuck Noll Field.

Visiting Waynesburg scored one goal in each half, while goalie Brad Davis made 13 saves for the win.

The Bearcats looked to seize the momentum from the get-go, accumulating six shots and three corner kicks in the first 18 minutes.  SVC was unable to find the net, however, and Waynesburg's JC Danhires put the Yellow Jackets on the board off of a rebound right in front in the 27th minute.

SVC once again came out strong after the intermission, tallying six shots and two more corners, but to no avail.  Waynesburg then took the 2-0 lead in the 72nd minute, when Ryan Gaudy picked up a loose ball in the box and found the corner of the net.

The Bearcats then went on the attack, keeping the ball deep in Waynesburg territory.  Davis made a pair of point blank saves on shots by Luis Rodriguez and Dave Lauteri before Ben Fecik controlled the ball outside of the box and sent a cross toward goal.  The pass found the foot of Lauteri right in front, and his fourth goal of the season brought the Bearcats to within one.

In the final minute, SVC looked poised to tie the game.  Fecik picked the pocket of a Waynesburg forward deep in SVC territory, and started a break up field.  He sent a pass ahead to Rodriguez, who went one-on-one with Davis.  Rodriguez fired a rocket from 18 yards out, but Davis ranged far out of his net and made a diving stop to preserve the win.

10/8 - Westminster

Saint Vincent lost a tough double-overtime game to visiting Westminster College.

The Bearcats took the early lead, 19 minutes into the first half, when Luis Rodriguez picked apart the Titan defense and scored an unassisted goal to give SVC a 1-0 lead.

Thirteen minutes later, Westminster's Brice Lott tied the game off a rebound, then the Titans took the lead just four minutes later on an Aaron Zavora goal.  However, SVC was able to tie the game in the 40th minute, when defender Andy Bianco sent a direct kick from midfield into the box, and it was deflected in by a Westminster defender, making the score 2-2.

Just over two minutes into the second half, Ian Hill scored for Westminster to make it 3-2, and it appeared as though the game would end that way, until Dave Lauteri took a pass from Matt Fecik and converted with just 2:21 remaining in regulation, tying the game at 3-3.

After a scoreless first overtime period, Hill sent a pass into the box midway through the second overtime, and Jarred Smeltzer headed it into the net for the game winning goal.

10/11 - W&J

The Bearcats overpowered host Washington & Jefferson College, posting a 5-2 victory.

Ben Fecik and Luis Rodriguez each scored twice for SVC as the Bearcats snapped a five-game road losing streak.

The first 36 minutes of the game were scoreless, but things picked up in a hurry.

The Bearcats got on the board first, when Matt Fecik found the net, assisted by Ibra Fancher, after a corner kick by Ben Fecik.

W&J wasted little time knotting it up, as four minutes after Fecik's goal, the Presidents' Ryan McDonald drilled a free kick from 25 yards out into the back of the net.

Just 20 seconds later, Rodriguez scored his first goal of the day when he took a lead pass from Jim Vargo and dribbled deep into W&J territory.  He drew the Presidents' keeper far out of the net, and then popped the ball in to put SVC up 2-1.

The early stages of the second half were even until Ben Fecik scored his first of the afternoon, with an assist credited to Dave Lauteri, to give SVC the 3-1 advantage with 22 minutes left.

Ten minutes later, Rodriguez netted his second of the game, and Presidents' Athletic Conference-leading 11th of the year, after putting back his own rebound from 10 feet out, making the score 4-1.

The Presidents scored their second goal of the afternoon on a quick header off of a corner kick right in front by John Lhota with seven minutes left, but SVC then put the game away when Ben Fecik scored his second goal of the game with three minutes left.

For the day, SVC was outshot 18-8, but the Bearcats posted an impressive shooting percentage, scoring on five of their eight shots on goal.

10/14 - Grove City

A pair of second half goals by Grove City sunk the Bearcats, as the Wolverines defeated SVC 3-2 at Chuck Noll Field.

Grove City's Evan Moore scored the game's first goal, driving a shot in from 10 yards out to put the Wolverines up 1-0 in the 11th minute.

The early goal seemed to serve as a wake up call for the Bearcats, as the hosts then took control, taking four corners and five shots before SVC's Ben Fecik scored on a blast from the top of the 18-yard line, assisted by Alex Lardin, tying the game at 1-1.

The game remained deadlocked at one through halftime, but the Bearcats looked to take the lead early on in the second stanza. Matt Fecik and Luis Rodriguez each had shots from up close, but were robbed by GCC goalie Sean Osborne, and the game remained tied.

Grove City's Alex Ford scored to give his team the lead at the 70-minute mark, and just 30 seconds later, teammate Jake Kern split the Bearcat defense and streaked 40-yards down the field before cashing in on the breakaway goal, putting the visitors up 3-1.

Kern looked to give his team additional insurance, but was robbed from close range twice in a one-minute span by SVC goalie Brandon Bower.

The Bearcats then went on the attack, with Rick Fec pulling his team to within one on a header from right in front off of a perfect cross from Ben Fecik with 10 minutes remaining in regulation.

SVC continued to press, and had a pair of corner kicks in the final four minutes, but the Bearcats were unable to tie it up.

For the game, GCC owned a 17-15 advantage in shots, but SVC had 10 corner kicks to the Wolverines' three.   Both Osborne and Bower made six saves in goal.

10/17 - Geneva

The Bearcats traveled to Beaver Falls, PA and defeated the Geneva College Golden Tornadoes 1-0.

The game was a defensive struggle throughout, with the lone goal scored by SVC's Luis Rodriguez, off of an assist from Rick Fec, with 20 minutes left in regulation.

Bearcat goalie Gabe Cooper was strong, making six saves in goal to earn his first career shutout, and was aided throughout by the play of SVC defenders Ibra Fancher, Ben Skvarca, Dean Jordan, and Matt Fecik. For the contest, each team had 13 shots, while the Bearcats owned a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.

10/22 - Thomas More

Behind two goals from junior Luis Rodriguez, the Bearcats defeated Thomas More College 2-1 in a double-overtime affair in Crestview Hills, KY.

The Saints scored the game's first goal, an unassisted tally by Joey Tensing in the 19th minute.

Rodriguez's first goal then tied it just three minutes later, and the game remained deadlocked through the remainder of the first half.

Neither team scored over the second 45 minutes, although both had chances, as the Bearcats managed seven shots and the Saints nine. 

The first overtime couldn't decide a winner, and it appeared as if the game would end in a draw until SVC's Matt Fecik tracked the ball down in the corner, and sent a cross to the top of the box to teammate Nick Pollino.  He placed a quick pass on the foot of Rodriguez, who fired in the one-timer to win the contest.

The two goals now give Rodriguez a PAC-leading 14 on the season.

Jacob Gilbertson went the distance in goal, stopping seven shots to earn the win.

10/26 - Bethany

The Bethany College Bison upset the Bearcats by a score of 2-1 on Senior Day in Latrobe.

The Bearcats out-shot the Bison 37-13, but Bethany goalie Chad Perry made 18 saves to earn the win.

SVC came out strong, owning play throughout the first half, as the Bearcats owned a 17-3 advantage in shots over the first 30 minutes of play.  Perry was solid from the start, stopping 13 first half shots.

The Bison got on the board with four minutes left in the opening stanza, with Ari Dewhurst scoring off of a cross from Mike Hasson right in front.

Bethany wasted little time in gaining an insurance tally, as Mike Aivalis cashed in on a Bearcat foul by burying a direct kick from 18 yards out just two minutes after Dewhurst's score.

SVC had a prime chance in pulling to within one in the closing seconds of the half, after Dave Lauteri was granted a penalty shot after a Bethany foul in front of the box.  As was the case all day, however, Perry made a diving stop, and the Bison went into halftime with the 2-0 lead, despite posting just four shots on goal to the Bearcats' 13.

The second half was more of the same for the Bearcats, as their defense shut down any Bethany scoring opportunity while the SVC offense controlled the ball throughout.

SVC finally solved Perry in the 62nd minute, when Lauteri scored his sixth of the year, with assists credited to Ibra Fancher and Rick Fec, to pull the Bearcats to within one.

The Bearcats looked as if they were about to tie it in the 75th minute, when Jim Vargo and Ben Fecik each put headers toward the net.  Vargo's hit the crossbar, however, and Fecik's was blocked right in front.  It was the final threat the Bearcats would pose on the day, and Bethany spoiled SVC's Senior Day with the 2-1 victory.

Prior to the game, the four members of the Bearcat senior class, including Lauteri, Fancher, Brandon Bower, and Andy Bianco, were recognized in a ceremony for their contributions to the program over their four-year careers.

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