Offense explodes against Albright

Tim Kelchner
Staff Writer

The men's soccer team continued its fine play Tuesday night with a 4-1 win over the Lions of Albright. The Jays' record now stands at 6-2-1 overall, while winning their last four matches.
The Jays used their highest scoring output of the season to tame the Lions with three different goal scorers and several players netting their first of the season.
"You've got to be pleased with tonight's result; we scored four goals, baby," ecstatic coach Skip Roderick said after the game.
The Jays started the scoring in the 29th minute when senior defender Jeff Boushell drove a cross into the box that found the feet of fellow senior Brian Healy. Healy settled the ball and distributed it across the box on the ground to sophomore Steve Petrosky. Petrosky struck the ball well to beat the keeper, notching his first goal of the season and giving Etown a 1-0 lead.
Sophomore midfielder Michael Terry unleashed a rocket of a shot that found the back of the net in the 31st to put the Jays up 2-0. Terry collected a deflection from a Blue Jay corner and sent in his first goal of the season from 20 yards out.
Albright scored a quick goal in the 42nd minute and the Jays held a 2-1 advantage going into the half.
After another Terry goal in the 69th, first-year forward Matt Diller gathered his first goal off his collegiate career off another Healy assist in the 78th minute.
"Overall this was a great team effort, we sent a lot of guys out onto the field and they all performed very well in my eyes," Roderick said.
In the past week and a half, the Jays have toppled PSU-Altoona, Susquehanna and Lycoming.
In the Lycoming game, another new face stepped up for the Jays: first-year forward Bryan Holt.
After 60-plus minutes of scoreless play between the Jays and the Warriors, Holt received a pass from sophomore teammate Mike Helsel and found the back of the net to give the Jays a crucial 1-0 advantage in the 68th minute. Healy added an insurance goal in the 89th but after the game, the talk was focused on the young Blue Jay sensation.
"Don't look at me - this is the kid you want to talk to you," Healy said, pointing to Holt.
"This is just another big step in my college career," Holt said. "I just have to keep bringing my game up to the next level."
This win came on the heels of a high-excitement victory over Susquehanna. In their 40 years of existence, the Crusaders soccer team has never beaten the Blue Jays. On that Wednesday night, they definitely came out determined to break up the streak.
After the first 15 minutes of play, the game was tied at two. In the Jays' previous six matches, they had only scored two goals in an entire game twice.
Despite the fast-paced first half, the second half slowed down and became a defensive struggle with neither opponent wanting to commit a potentially fatal penalty.
Finally, in the 82nd minute, Helsel proved to be the hero for Etown. Helsel received a pass from sophomore midfielder Rick Winstanley and drove home the game winner.
"We know that they've never beaten us. After we went into the half tied at two, we were determined, we had to get pumped, we had to win this," Helsel said.
For Helsel's efforts over the past several games he has been named Player of the Week. Junior goalkeeper A.J. Fleisher joins him for the second consecutive week as Fleisher was named Defender/Goaltender of the Week.
With two conference wins already under their belt, the Jays travel to Annville where they will battle the Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen Saturday.

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