By Sophie Grabiec
Sports Editor
Between Friday, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, four different Washington College men’s soccer players scored, and each had assists coming from different teammates.
First, the Shoremen opened up their season in a home game on Friday, Aug. 31 versus Stevenson University. WC won 2-1 over the mustangs, scoring once in each half.
The first goal came from a sideline throw-in from senior Kyle Kirwan, traveling to the deep corner to senior Kevin Sawyer. Sawyer was able to cross the ball to junior Liam Mansfield, who headed the ball over the goalie and into the net.
This was Mansfield’s first career goal and Sawyer’s second career assist.
Stevenson retaliated with a goal of their own in the second half at 52:40. Ten minutes later, sophomore Aidan Chadam scored the game-winning goal off of a corner kick coming from Kirwan. This served as Chadam’s first career goal as well.
Throughout the game, WC managed 12 shots and six corner kicks. Sophomore goalie Gavin Campbell had five saves, a performance that earned him Goose Nation TV Shoremen player of the Game.
Sophomore James Strine lead the team in shots, with five.
The following day, the Shoremen took on Hood College at home, winning 2-1.
Senior Brian Graham was the first scorer of the game, shooting off of a rebounded save from Hood’s goalie. Sawyer crossed the ball from the right sideline, allowing Strine to take the initial shot, followed up by Graham. Graham’s fifth career goal earned him the Goose Nation TV Shoremen Player of the Game title.
Hood remained scoreless as the game continued, the next scorer being sophomore Zack Urbanski at 60:14.
Urbanski was limited to the sideline last season due to injury, and has scored once and taken five shots so far in just two games.
Hood put one in the net in the final moments of the game, scoring at 78:05 to make the score 2-1. WC had a total of 13 shots, six of them on goal, and senior goalie Josh Samuels made three saves.
The Shoremen play their next game on Saturday, Sept. 8 at Randolph College (Va.). The Shoremen will begin Centennial Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 15 at Gettysburg.