Cassano’s Game-Winner Carries Behrend Past Houghton, 2-1

HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Senior Andrew Cassano (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) sent a header goal into the back of the net in the 68^th minute of Wednesday's contest to carry the Penn State Behrend men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Houghton.

Score: Penn State Behrend 2, Houghton 1
Records: Penn State Behrend (2-5-1), Houghton (2-4-1)

Key Moments:

* Blake Cooper (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) notched the first goal of the game for the Lions in the 14^th minute
* Cooper and Reilly Nickles (Pittsburgh, PA/Moon Area) played a give-and-go with Nickles chipping a pass to the right foot of Cooper for the score
* This marked the first collegiate point for Nickles
* The Highlanders knotted the score at one apiece in the 28^th minute with a goal from Elijah Bailey off a pass from Samuel O'Brien
* Behrend tallied the game winner on a corner kick in the 68^th minute
* Jac Caputo (Pittsburgh, PA/Montour) sent a ball into the box to the head of Cassano for his first goal of the season
* This was the second helper of the year for Caputo
* The Lions held a 10-7 advantage in shots and a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks over Houghton with seven of their corner kicks coming in the second half
* Cooper and Johnathan Swann (Allison Park, PA/North Allegheny) led Behrend with two shots apiece, while O'Brien and Bailey delivered two shots each for the Highlanders
* In net, Behrend's goalkeeper Evan Dougal (Gibsonia, PA/Pine-Richland) picked up the win with two saves, while his counterpart Joshua Smith finished with five saves

Up Next:

* The Lions open conference play with a trip to Pittsburgh on Saturday, Sept. 28 to take on La Roche. Game time is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.