READING, Pa. – An early tally from
Zeth Zambrano (Austin, Tx./Barca Residency Academy) proved to be the difference maker in the Hood College men's soccer team's match against Alvernia University, winning 1-0 to remain undefeated in Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth play.
Inside the Box Score
Zambrano scored the game's lone goal, which was assisted by
Terrell Funchess (Taneytown, Md./Henry E. Lackey).
Adam Labows (Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown) made five saves in the shutout victory.
Hood's defense made two saves on the goal line to preserve the lead.
How it Happened
The Blazers put the pressure on early, clearing away a chance for the Golden Wolves and going on the counterattack just five minutes into the match. Moments later, Funchess would find a streaking Zambrano just outside the edge of the box, who was
able to make a move around his defender and send a shot into the top left corner of the goal to put Hood ahead 1-0. Alvernia had a prime opportunity to tie the game less than a minute later, but Labows made a diving stop to preserve the lead.
Both teams had several good scoring chances throughout the remainder of the first half, with
Jonathan Fuentes (Hagerstown, Md./Oakdale) nearly doubling the lead, but goalkeeper Evan Solley was just able to stick his hand out to make the save, fighting off the rest of the shots he faced to keep the Blazers' lead to just 1-0 at halftime.
Coming out of the break, Alvernia looked to tie things up with a consistent attack starting in the 58th minute, but just getting the ball past Labows was not enough, as Funchess and
Kamarre Lawrence (Brandywine, Md./Saint Vincent Pallotti) cleared back-to-back shots off the line to preserve
Hood's advantage by mere inches. Funchess nearly produced a highlight-reel moment on the other end of the field a couple minutes later with a bicycle kick, but his shot just hit the top of the crossbar before going out of play.
After a bit of a quiet spell, the Blazers ramped up their attack in the 71st minute with sustained pressure from fouls and corner kicks, but nothing else could find the back of the next. Fortunately for Hood, its defense held up just as well as it had earlier in the game, with the only shot on goal the Golden Wolves could get was a header near the edge of the box in the 88
th minute that Labows calmly scooped up, helping kill the final two minutes and give Hood its first win over Alvernia since 2017.
For the Opponent
Solley made five saves in the loss.
Analysis
The Golden Wolves outshot the Blazers 12-11.
Hood had an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.
The Blazers committed 12 fouls in the match compared to just nine by the Golden Wolves.
Notes
Hood improves to 8-2-2 (2-0-1), while Alvernia drops to 2-8-5 (0-2-1).
The Blazers' unbeaten streak now sits at seven games, its longest since 2019.
Up Next
Hood returns home for its All Hood, All Blue match against MAC Commonwealth opponent York College of Pennsylvania Wednesday, October 22 at 7 p.m.
