By Dominic Rapposelli
Sports Editor
Shoremen soccer fell in their second Centennial Conference matchup of the 2024 campaign to the McDaniel College Green Terror. The squad tied a fifth-ranked squad from Dickinson College in their Conference opener.
Washington College played the Red Devils to a scoreless draw on Sept. 21, preventing the team’s first loss since August. However, the herculean effort was not enough on the road, as McDaniel outplayed the Shoremen in a 1-0 affair.
WC kept the game close the entire 90 minutes, as the Shoremen outshot the hosts 4-2 in the first half. Just over four minutes into the second half, McDaniel put themselves ahead for good with a well-placed shot to the bottom left corner of the net.
Sophomore midfielder Tucker Sprano and senior midfielder Katim Njie each had opportunities to tie the game late, but they could not find the equalizer, as only ten seconds remained on the clock after Njie sent a header high over the crossbar.
The team continues to outshoot their opponents a combined 119-94, while averaging just over 13 shots per outing. The Shoremen additionally continue to outscore their opponents, dealing eight goals through this point in the season and only allowing five.
“Our team isn’t new to dealing with adversity. Whenever things go wrong, we like to just stick to our team’s core values: courage, integrity, respect and perseverance,” Njie said.
Offense continues to be an area where WC sees itself outperformed the most, with teams averaging 34 percent of shots being on target, while only keeping 31 percent of their shots on target. Defensively, the Shoremen have only allowed multiple goals from an opponent just once this season, a 2-2 tie against the Stockton University Ospreys.
Senior goalkeeper Cole White has five shutouts this season and has only allowed five goals while stepping in seamlessly for fifth-year goalkeeper Anthony Pinto.
“One thing my team and I have focused on individually is practicing gratitude. I believe that gratitude is at the core of our success as a team. From experience, appreciating each practice, game, and opportunity motivates us to push ourselves to be our very best,” White said.
Next up, the Shoremen travel to play the Ursinus College Bears on Oct. 5, hoping to regroup after a 0-1-1 start to Centennial Conference action.
Photo by Darius Kesey.
Photo Caption: Shoremen soccer look to bounce back after 0-1-1 start to Centennial Conference play.