The Misericordia University men's soccer team dropped a close 2-1 decision to Wilkes University, Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.
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After
Anthony Yarabinee gave MU the lead early in the first half, the Colonels put up a pair of goals between the 45th and 47th minutes of play and withstood a late push by the Cougars to claim victory.
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In his first start of the season, MU goalkeeper
Charlton Alonso was immediately tested with a shot inside the box. He dove to his left and made the save to prevent Wilkes from taking the lead in the opening minute.
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Yarabinee put Misericordia on the board at 16:15 when he weaved through a pair of Colonel defenders and chipped a ball past the keeper's left-hand side for his fourth goal of the season.
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Spencer Pisani threatened to increase MU's lead with a pair of shots in the 33rd minute. However, they were blocked and saved, respectively.
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Pisani had another scoring chance at 34:32 off of a corner kick by
Stevan Patino, but his header was just high.
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Just under four minutes later,
Richard Billings found himself with some space inside the box and ripped a shot to the bottom left corner of the goal that was turned aside by the Wilkes' keeper.
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The Colonels knotted things up at 1-1 off a corner with just eight seconds remaining in the first half.
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Wilkes took a 2-1 lead quickly in the second half, scoring at 46:41.
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Drew Weaver nearly tied the match at 64:25 when he raced towards the goal, cut into open space at the top of the box and ripped a shot that barely missed the upper-right corner of the net.
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After a solid run,
Ahmad Neama centered a pass to Yarabinee, who narrowly missed a shot to the lower-right corner of the goal in the 68
th minute.
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The Cougars were awarded penalty kicks at 72:21 and 87:22, but the Wilkes keeper made a pair of saves to preserve their 2-1 lead through the end of the match.Â
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MU dominated in the shots department, outshooting the Colonels 22-6. Yarabinee recorded a goal on four shots.
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The Cougars travel to Muhlenberg College to take on the Mules, Tuesday at 7:00.
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