HARRISBURG, PA – Senior Hernan Ayala (San Juan, PR/Colegio Marista) scored on a first-half stoppage-time penalty kick leading Pratt Institute men's soccer to a 2-1 victory over Central Penn College Saturday afternoon.
With the victory, the Cannoneers improved to 3-1 in the first season since men's soccer returned as an intercollegiate offering. Central Penn fell to 3-8.
"Central Penn and Pratt were very evenly matched and after the rain stopped, the grass surface was in great condition to enjoy the game as a player," commented head coach Jonas Worth. "Illness and injury forced me to shuffle the pack, but several players really showed their mettle by stepping into key roles. Elmer Portillo was on a different level than I have seen and Hernan Ayala was extremely dangerous from wide areas."
Central Penn netted the game's first goal, scoring on set-piece corner in the 13th minute. The goal forced Pratt into a more aggressive mindset on offense and the Cannoneers were rewarded when freshman Natt Slober (Baltimore, MD/College of West Africa) tied the game off a perfectly weighted cross by Ayala. Slober played the ball off his chest, turned, and fired the ball into the low corner past the Central Penn goalkeeper for his fifth goal of the season.
WIth the game tied at one, Slober received a through ball in the first minute of first half stoppage time and nimbly dribbled his way through the Knights' defense, when the forward was brought down in the box by a Central Penn defender, leading to a penalty kick for Pratt. With Slober shaken up on the play, Worth turned to Ayala, who calmly struck the ball into the corner of the goal to give the Cannoneers a 2-1 lead at the half.
"It was an emotional moment because we clawed our way back from 1-0 down," Worth said. "But Ayala slotted it home with great calm and composure. That says a lot about how mature he is."
Nursing a 2-1 lead, the Cannoneers managed to keep Central Penn off the score sheet over the game's final 45:00. Anchored by a stingy defense and timely saves from goalkeeper Joseph Mendoza (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck), the Cannoneers navigated their way through a foul-filled second half that saw players from both sides draw yellow cards to earn the victory.
"Our back line was again forced to change, but their work with "Broadway" Joe Mendoza proved pivotal against a Central Penn team that never stopped attacking us, even after their red card," Worth added.
Up Next: The Cannoneers return to Randall's Island to take on Vaughn College in a Columbus Day matinee. The match begins at 1:00 p.m.
