CHESTER, Pa. (Sept. 10, 2016) – Playing short-handed for most of the second half, the Widener University men's soccer team fell to Southern Virginia by a 2-1 score on a hot and steamy Saturday afternoon at Leslie C. Quick Stadium.
 
Southern Virginia (2-1) got on the board first when Tyler McElwee received a pass from Brandon Zapata and went in all alone against the Pride's Dave Sousa (Springfield, Pa.). McElwee beat the Widener goalkeeper with a shot to the near post to give the Knights a 1-0 advantage which they took into recess.
 
Widener answered right back with a quick strike in the opening minutes of the second half. After sophomore Justin O'Brien (Carlisle, Pa.) played the ball into the box, classmate Dylan Pratzner (Wallingford, Pa.) eventually stole it away from the Southern Virginia defense on a clear attempt and lifted the ball into the upper 90 of the net to even the score just 2:09 into the frame.
 
The match then took an unexpected turn shortly after the equalizer, as Widener's goalkeeper received a red card for using his hands outside of the 18-yard box. Despite the setback, freshman Jordan Katz (North Wales, Pa.) came in and made three key saves in his collegiate debut and the Pride continued to create scoring opportunities.
 
Pratzner had multiple scoring chances shortly after the Pride found themselves playing a man down, which included attempting a penalty shot, but goalkeeper Spencer Young turned everything away to keep the match tied. The Knights then earned a penalty kick of their own in the waning minutes, and Zapata capitalized on the opportunity in the 87th to give the visitors the win.
 
Keenan Carroll was credited with the victory for Southern Virginia by making two saves. Katz took the loss despite making three stops, including one from point-blank range shortly before the deciding play.
 
Widener (1-3) will hit the road for the first time this fall when it visits Immaculata on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 4:00 p.m.