April 17, 2012
New Castle, Del. - The Saint Joseph's men's soccer team participated in the annual Andrew McDonough B+ College Classic at the Kirkwood Soccer Club Soccer Complex on Saturday. Ryan McFadden scored the game-tying goal against Delaware, while Pat McGlynn netted the tying goal against Navy.
The Hawks faced off against the University of Delaware in their first of two matches on the day. The Blue Hens started the game with a lot of momentum and outplayed the Hawks in the first 20 minutes of the game. During that time, Delaware scored to take a 1-0 lead off a crossed ball from the left side. SJU settled in and adjusted to Delaware's initial pressure and established some rhythm, especially in the offensive end. The first half ended with the Hawks trailing, 1-0.
In the second half, Saint Joseph's played much more aggressively, creating some dangerous opportunities including a corner kick, which resulted in the Hawks first goal of the afternoon. Jimmy Reilly struck a left-footed kick that found Jake Nelson on back post who then redirected it back in to the middle, to McFadden. McFadden finished the opportunity with a header to score the team's first of the day. Both teams battled throughout the second half, ending play with a 1-1 draw.
The second match of the day, SJU played the US Naval Academy. Again, the Hawks fell behind early, trailing 1-0 after Navy countered a Saint Joseph's corner kick. Navy cleared the ball off the corner and the ball found its way down the right side to a Navy forward who took the ball into the box and buried their lone goal of the match. Afterwards, Navy began to high press the Hawks but they did a nice job of handling the pressure and creating some momentum going into the break.
Late in the second half, Reilly received the ball on the outside right flank and crossed a beautiful ball into the middle where Tyler Levengood played a drop pass to Pat McGlynn for a shot. McGlynn struck a full volley into the left corner from 25 yards out. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.
The B + Foundation honors the life of 14 year old Andrew McDonough who died of cancer. Andrew's blood type became the perfect message - Be Positive - to reflect his battle with Leukemia and sepsis and how he lived his life. The B + Foundation is about kids helping kids fight cancer. More information regarding the B+ Foundation can be found by visiting www.bepositive.org.
