PHILADELPHIA - FDU men's soccer (2-4-1) suffered a 6-1 setback Sunday at Penn (4-1-1). The match was the last for the Quakers at Rhodes Field through 2024 with their home fixtures shifting to the artificial playing surface at Penn Park. The Knights' performance saw some bright spots with freshman Jaime Barbero connecting with junior Eugenio García for an FDU score in the second half - the first points in the Burgundy and Blue for the pair of Spaniards.
 

How It Happened

First Half

• Under the bright lights in the City of Brotherly Love, Penn got off to a fast attack at Rhodes Field as the side would open the tally in the second minute of play with Stas Korzeniowski scoring for the Quakers early on.
• Without a recorded action in between, the home club doubled their lead with a goal off the boot of Ben Stitz in the 10' to put Penn up 2-0 on FDU. They would follow it up with a third goal in the 18' from Michael Hewes, the first of his two scores on the evening.
• Coming off the bench in the 29', junior forward Tony Gomez would log the Knights' first shot of the match in the 31', though it would be saved by the Quakers' keeper in the bottom left of the goal.
• The fourth Penn goal would come in the 36' by way of Isaac McGinnis but not before senior midfielder Jordan Alonge would pop a string of three-consecutive shots, two of which were on-target, the third blocked.

Second Half

• Looking to mount a comeback from their largest halftime deficit of the campaign, Seth Roland's Knights regrouped and balanced their attack, turning to several reserves to fill-out the second half starting lineup.
• Junior goalkeeper Juan Martín Barahona was among the halftime substitutions for FDU with the Rumoroso, Spain native making his Knights debut.
• After trading shots with Penn, Barbero's goal came in the 65' assisted by García as the Knights sought to chip away at the Penn lead.
• First facing pressure 13 minutes into the second half of play, Martín Barahona would log his first save down the center of the box.
• Hewes' second goal for the Ivy League member Penn came in the 70' to make it 5-1 in favor of the Quakers.
• The final score of the game would come in the 81' by Brandon Curran.
• FDU played the final two minutes down a man as Mamadi Sangare was shown a second yellow and was sent-off in the 88'.

 

Quotable

"Not our day," said Roland. "Penn was very good and we were not. Time to regroup."
 

The Road Ahead

FDU returns up north for the side's final non-conference match of the 2022 campaign on Wednesday, September 21 when the Knights visit Gaelic Park to battle Manhattan at 7 p.m. Northeast Conference play for the Boys in Blue kicks-off on Sunday, September 25 at Sacred Heart live on NEC Front Row. Kickoff against the Pioneers is slated for 3:30 p.m.

Connect with FDU men's soccer on Twitter and Instagram, @FDUKnightsMSOC.