LA PLUME, PA- Marcos Louzada (Guacui, Espirito Santo, Brazil/The Webb School) converted a first-half penalty kick to give Keystone College the lead, but two second-half goals by Penn College decided a closely contested 2–1 United East Conference matchup Saturday at the Keystone Turf Field and Track Complex.
The Giants celebrated Chris Roca's (Palisades Park, NJ/Palisades Park) Senior Day, with the senior defender earning the start and helping Keystone hold the Wildcats scoreless through the opening 45 minutes. Keystone finished the afternoon with 12 shots, including five on goal, and continued to create opportunities throughout the second half.
With the result, Keystone moves to 5–7–1 overall and 3–2–0 in United East play. Penn College improves to 7–4–3 overall and 4–1–0 in the conference.
Keystone tested the Penn College defense less than a minute into the match. Aiden Cummings (Baltimore, MD/Mount Saint Joseph) put a shot on target just 58 seconds after kickoff, forcing a save and earning the Giants their first corner kick of the afternoon. Dary Hodge-Davila (Riverview, FL/Riverview) followed with another shot on goal at the 15:32 mark as Keystone worked to establish an early lead.
The Giants continued to generate chances as the half progressed. John Covert (Union Beach, NJ/Keyport) sent an attempt wide in the 26th minute, while Hodge-Davila and Loui Arellano (Winchester, TN/The Webb School of Bell Buckle) each added shots later in the period. At the other end, Keystone's back line, which included Roca, limited Penn College to three first-half shots, none of which were on goal.
Keystone broke through at the 40:24 mark when Louzada stepped to the penalty spot and converted, giving the Giants a 1–0 advantage with less than five minutes remaining before halftime. Keystone carried that lead into the break after finishing the opening period with a 6–3 edge in shots.
The Giants resumed their attack early in the second half, with Hodge-Davila recording an attempt in the 50th minute. Arellano added another shot at 54:06, and Keystone earned two corner kicks within the first 10 minutes of the half.
Goalkeeper Kolten McVean (Dickinson, TX/Dickinson) made several key stops to protect the lead. He turned away consecutive shots just four seconds apart in the 52nd minute, then added another save at 57:06 to keep Keystone in front.
Penn College tied the match at 60:16 on a goal by Hunter Gabloff off an assist from Will Watson. The Wildcats took a 2–1 lead at 61:39 when Scott Goldfeder converted a penalty kick.
Keystone responded quickly with an opportunity to level the score. Madden Bredek (Phoenix, AZ/Shadowridge) placed a shot on goal at 62:10, forcing a save just 31 seconds after Penn College's second goal. The Giants followed with a corner kick as they continued their pursuit of an equalizer.
James Kallens (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central Regional), who entered in goal at 60:16, helped keep the match within reach with saves in the 63rd and 70th minutes. Keystone continued to press forward, with Covert recording another attempt at 74:49. Following a Giants corner kick in the 77th minute, Barrett Wood (Norfolk, VA/Matthew Fontaine Maury) put a shot on target that required another stop from the Penn College goalkeeper.
Cummings supplied Keystone's final shot at 87:16, sending his attempt wide as the Giants sought a late tying goal.
Hodge-Davila led Keystone with three shots. Cummings, Arellano and Covert recorded two apiece, while Louzada, Bredek and Wood each finished with one shot on goal. McVean totaled three saves in 60:16 of action, and Kallens added two over the final 29:44.
Keystone earned five corner kicks, including four in the second half, and received contributions from across the lineup on an afternoon honoring Roca.
