Late Penalty Gives Hilltoppers Win Over Men's Soccer

FROSTBURG, Md. – A late West Liberty penalty kick gave them a 2-1 road win over Frostburg State Men's Soccer on Saturday night.
 
Within the first minute, WLU had an early effort after a handball within the first minute, as freshman Jan Foret was able to make a comfortable save following a header on goal. Nine minutes later, at the other end, freshman Mason Salvadge also had a header on goal, but was right at keeper Colton Callen. The Hilltoppers made their way downfield once again on a sprint down the right wing, but Foret again had safe hands on a save.
 
After 15 minutes of minimal chances, West Liberty earned a corner, from which Forehand played a sharp ball on the ground to Linus Ebert, squeezing the shot past two defenders and Foret for the opener. The Bobcats tried to respond five minutes later, but a clipped ball into the box from senior Mateo Cuadros was too close to trouble Callen. Frostburg had three chances late in the half to equalize, but senior Laki Psallidas sent one shot just wide and another high, while graduate Alex Flores narrowly missed a curling effort in the final minutes.
 
Salvadge opened the second half with a left-footed effort that had plenty of power but lacked the accuracy to get on net. FSU continued to press forward and were rewarded when a free kick was half cleared away, finding Cuadros at the edge of the 18 to clip a ball to the back post, where junior Carlos Quintero Rivas met it with a powerful header that beat Callen for a 1-1 tie.
 
The Hilltoppers responded by controlling the next 10 minutes, as one shot went high and Foret stood tall to make a couple of big saves that kept the Bobcats in the game. Each team traded corner kicks, as Frostburg fashioned a chance with senior Caleb Dell volleying on net, but couldn't generate the power to beat Callen. With just over five minutes to go, WLU was awarded a penalty after a sliding challenge in the box cleared the ball but whistled for the follow-through, as Forehand stepped up and sent Foret the wrong way for a 2-1 lead. In the final minute, Quintero Rivas had a header go just wide that would be the final chance of the contest.
 
FSU held a narrow 12-11 advantage in shots, though the visitors put six on net compared to four.
 
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 6-6-1 on the year, while West Liberty improves to 5-6-2. The Bobcats return to action on Wednesday, October 23 as they host West Virginia Wesleyan at 7:30 p.m. Information and updates will be posted at frostburgsports.com.