La Plume, Pa. –
Khadim Thiam (New York, N.Y./Washington Irving) scored twice and
Daniel Zuniga (Lakeland, Fla./McKeel Academy) netted his second game winning goal in as many games to lead Keystone College to a 3-2 victory over visiting Penn State Harrisburg in non-conference men's soccer action on Tuesday evening. The Giants boost their record to 5-2 on the season with their fifth straight triumph while the Lions drop to 6-2.
Keystone nearly went ahead eight and a half minutes into Tuesday's contest, but
Talhah Netherlin (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty)'s hard-angled shot hit the crossbar and stayed out and
Carlos Bonilla (Clermont, Fla./East Ridge) was denied minutes later by a diving stop from Harrisburg goalkeeper Nicholas Guglielmetti.
The Giants took a 1-0 lead in the 25
th minute when Thiam one-touched a shot in from the center of the goal mouth off a long throw in from
Kouassi Kouadio (Mount Pocono, Pa./Pocono Mountain East). Thiam's goal was his second of the year while Kouadio's helper was also his second assist of the season.
Harrisburg leveled the score at one-apiece just over four minutes later as Justin Elnahrawy one-touched in a Nathan Morgan cross from the base line with Creasy Lopez also picking up an assist on the tally.
Keystone nearly went back front in the 38
th minute, but Frank Heter's header at the far post banged off the goalpost. At the other end,
Malcom Moreira (Hillside, N.J./St. Benedict Prep) came up with a big save five minutes before the break, stoning a shot from close range to keep the score level.
The score line remained 1-1 at halftime with the Giants holding an 8-2 advantage in shots over the first 45 minutes of play.
Keystone needed just 57 seconds of play to forge back in front as Thiam headed home a restart served in by
Abreham Kittel (Trumansburg, N.Y./Charles O. Dickerson) for his second goal of the afternoon and third of the year. Kittel picked up his second assist of the season as the Giants went ahead 2-1.
Harrisburg used a set piece goal of their own to tie the score up at 2-2 in the 65
th minute as Christian Schmoyer headed in a free kick played into the box by Alex West.
Keystone went back in front for the third time of the evening in the 76
th minute when Zuniga beautifully placed a long-range header over Lions' keeper Joshua Myers and into the side netting on a ball served in by
Jalen Freeman (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional). Zuniga's tally would stand as his second tally of the year while Freeman's assist was also his second of the year.
Moreira earned the win in goal for the Giants with a six save effort.
Guglielmetti made two saves in the first half before being replaced by Joshua Myers, who stopped one shot in the second half.
For the game, the hosts held a 14-13 edge in overall shots while the Lions held an 8-6 advantage in shots on goal and a 2-1 lead in corner kick chances.
Keystone will host its final non-conference game of the season on Saturday when it hosts Lebanon Valley College at 4:00 p.m. on the turf field.