WEST CHESTER, Pa.- Kenyon Carter (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) scored the eventual game-winner late in the first half to guide the West Chester University men's soccer team (6-5-2, 3-3-1) to a crucial 1-0 win over previously unbeaten No. 13 Bloomsburg (6-1-6, 2-1-4) on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday's victory, which also featured a career-high 10 saves by
Alexi Amanatidis (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./The Shipley School), gave West Chester three critical points as the Golden Rams look to punch their ticket to the PSAC Tournament for the 10
th year in a row in 2025.
West Chester pressured the Bloomsburg defense early, but the Huskies withstood the early pressure to keep the game scoreless through the first 20 minutes.
Bloomsburg increased its pressure as the half progressed, peppering the Golden Ram defense with shots midway through the first half as the Huskies ended the half with an 11-6 lead in shots, although the Golden Rams finished the first 45 minutes with a 4-3 lead in shots on goal.
The Golden Rams 4-3 edge in shots on goal included the go-ahead goal when
Kenyon Carter (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) got on the end of a free kick from
Owen Slack (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) to give the Purple and Gold a 1-0 lead with just under 10 minutes to play in the first half. This goal is just the fifth goal that Bloomsburg has surrendered this season, and proved to be the difference maker in the crucial 1-0 victory.
Amanatidis was sharp in the first half, making three saves to keep the 13
th-ranked Husky offense quiet in the early going.
Bloomsburg continued its pressure on the West Chester defense in the second half, led by the strong leg of Braden Alicea and a number of free kicks, which, if not for the stellar play of Amanatidis, were bound for the back of the net.
Amanatidis made a career-high 10 saves to help West Chester hand the 13
th-ranked Huskies their first loss of the season. Peter Punchello played well for Bloomsburg, making five saves to keep the Huskies in the game throughout the afternoon.
Bloomsburg ended the game with a 23-14 lead in shots and a 10-6 lead in shots on goal, while corners were even at 4-4 after West Chester won four corners late in the match.
Up Next
West Chester will be back in action on Wednesday night at PSAC East leader Millersville beginning at 7 p.m.
