The Lancaster Bible College men's soccer team improved to 3-1 this season with a tight, 1-0 victory over Alvernia on Wednesday at the Donald H. Funk Field. The loss drops the Golden Wolves to 1-4-1 this season, as the visitors suffered their first-ever loss to the Chargers.
 
How it Happened: Lancaster Bible and Alvernia traded possession over the first seven to eight minutes, but the Chargers began to control play at the 10-minute mark and were rewarded a minute later when sophomore Kedric Yoder took a pass from senior Chad Tolson, and shifted to his left, and ripped a shot into the top left-hand side of the net to give the Chargers an early 1-0 lead.
 
From there however, Alvernia controlled play for the rest of the half, and possessed the ball for much of the final 35 minutes. The Golden Wolves best chance came with just under 10 minutes to play, as Noah Wright blasted a shot from outside the box that hit the crossbar and came straight down, preserving Lancaster Bible's 1-0 lead.
 
Alvernia controlled play once again at the start of the second half, as they attempted to tie the game, not only for their sake, but for teammate JP Pierdomenico who was injured early in the second frame. CJ DeMarsico entered the game at halftime for the Chargers, and made a huge early save on Wright, and then withstood the onslaught of shots from the Golden Wolves, though many of them went wide of the net.
 
Lancaster Bible began to possess the ball and push for an insurance goal later in the half, but would not need the goal, as time expired, and the Chargers had their first-ever in three chances against the Golden Wolves.
 
Statistically Speaking: Alvernia outshot the Chargers, 11-6, but both teams ended with four shots on goal…Each team also had four corner kicks, while the Chargers led in fouls, 14-12…Jake Deterline and CJ DeMarsico each made two saves and combined for the second shutout of the season for Lancaster Bible.
 
The Coach Says: "This is a satisfying win," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Tom Ardt said. "The guys played hard, and it's difficult to play with a one-goal lead for 79 minutes, and we were able to do it, and fend off their chances, and earn a big non-conference win."
 
More on Wednesday's Game: "We had an intentional substitution pattern today in preparation for Friday, and I thought we were composed, and had a solid team on the field for 90 minutes," Ardt said. "Today was a great team victory, and we are looking forward to Friday."
 
News & Notes: Lancaster Bible is now 1-2 all-time against Alvernia…The Golden Wolves won last year's game, 1-0 in Reading, Pa…Lancaster Bible has scored seven goals by seven different players this season…Lancaster Bible has two games remaining in its season-opening six-game home stand.
 
Up Next: Lancaster Bible opens North Eastern Athletic Conference play on Friday, as the Chargers host Penn St. Abington in a rematch of last season's NEAC Final, which the Nittany Lions won, 2-1…Friday's game is set for 2 p.m.