Gilbert Waso vs. Franklin & Marshall 9/14/16
David Sinclair
1
Winner Elizabethtown ETOWN (3-2)
0
Franklin & Marshall FMC (2-2-1)
Winner
Elizabethtown ETOWN
(3-2)
1
Final
0
Franklin & Marshall FMC
(2-2-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Elizabethtown ETOWN 1 0 1
Franklin & Marshall FMC 0 0 0

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men's soccer reclaims Smith-Herr Boot with 1-0 win at No. 22 F&M

LANCASTER, Pa. -- Gilbert Waso's goal in the 35th minute stood up as the game-winner and Brian Gately registered his second straight shutout Wednesday night, elevating the Elizabethtown men's soccer team over No. 22 Franklin & Marshall, 1-0, to capture the Smith-Herr Boot outright for the first time since 2009.

Elizabethtown played with a purpose early and nearly went in front in the 11th minute when sophomore JD Haaf put a right-footed bullet towards the upper left corner, only to see Diplomats' goalkeeper Sebastian Jenkins get a mitt on it at the last second.

Already up 4-2 in shots and controlling a good portion of the possession, the Blue Jays (3-2) saw Waso get free on the right side in the 35th minute. The two-time All-American and Landmark Conference Player of the Year attacked the goal before ripping a shot from just inside the 18-yard box off of Jenkin's left hand and into the near side for his 28th career goal and fourth this season.

Franklin & Marshall (2-2-1), holders of the Smith-Herr Boot since 2014, brought a flurry of offense early in the second half looking to erase the one-goal deficit. The host Diplomats collected four shots and three corner kicks in the opening 6:51 of the half, but could not solve Elizabethotwn's defense.

The Jays countered shortly thereafter, but Jenkins came up with three timely saves in the 54th minute, denying a header by Mitchell Gochnauer off an E-town corner and then stopping Waso twice in less than 20 seconds.

Jenkins was called upon again in the 72nd minute, turning away scoring attempts by freshman Graydon Rogers and Waso. At the other end, Gately wasn't overly busy, needing to make just one save, but his aggressiveness kept the Diplomats' offense in check.

F&M's best opportunity of the night came in the 78th minute when Jim Connolly's shot found the crossbar. Elizabethtown effectively positioned its defense down the stretch, holding the Dips without a shot over the final 11:53 despite yielding five corners in that time.

Elizabethtown took back the Smith-Herr Boot for the first time in four years, having last claimed it following a scoreless draw on Herr Field in 2013. Wednesday night's win was the Blue Jays first in the series since a 1-0 victory on F&M's Tylus Field in 2009.

Shots favored the guests 13-11, while Franklin & Marshall doubled up the Jays in corners, 10-5. Waso's six shots were a game-high. Haaf and Scott Hess had two each for the Blue and Gray.

Elizabethtown will try to extend its winning streak to three games when it faces Penn State Harrisburg at noon Saturday in Middletown.
 
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