September 3, 2010
Wolverines open with draw
OSWEGO, N.Y. -- The Grove City College men's soccer team opened the 2010 season Friday evening with a 1-1 double-overtime draw against Alfred in the semifinals of the Oswego State Tournament at Laker Soccer Field.
Grove City took a 1-0 lead at 21:40 on an unassisted goal by senior Jake Kern (Fairfield, Pa./Fairfield). However, Alfred forged a 1-1 tie at 74:39 on a goal by Zachary Kranefield.
The Wolverines out-shot Alfred 12-8 and also had an 11-9 edge in corner kicks. In goal, freshman Chris Burgan (North Huntingdon, Pa./Trinity Christian) stopped three shots in his collegiate debut.
Alfred will play in Saturday's championship game against Oswego State while Grove City will meet Sage College in the consolation match at 1 p.m. The teams held a penalty kick shootout following the match to determine which team advanced to the finals. Alfred won the shootout 4-2.
Friday's match marked the first time since 2003 that Grove City opened the season away from home. The draw is the first tie in an opener for Grove City since 2003, when the Wolverines battled host Geneva to a 3-3 draw.
Grove City had not played Alfred since 1998, when Alfred still competed as a member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference.
Saturday's matchup with Sage will be the first meeting between the programs.