Tartans Drop First Game of Year, 2-1, at Grove City

(GROVE CITY, Pa.) - The 17th-ranked Carnegie Mellon University men's soccer team traveled to Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) leader Grove City College, Friday, September 23 for an afternoon match and fell for the first time this season. The Wolverines won the match 2-1 with a late second half goal to move their record to 8-1 while the Tartans dropped to 6-1.

In an evenly played game, the Tartans struck first in the 21st minute when sophomore Anthony Gulli (Warrenville, Ill./St. Joseph) scored his second goal of the season. The forward blasted a shot across the frame to the top right corner after sophomore Zack Masciopinto (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) let a pass through that came off the foot of junior forward Ryan Stinebaugh (Houston, Texas/Strake Jesuit College Prep).

Less than three minutes later, sophomore Alec Lam (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) made a save on the first of four shots for the Wolverines. Grove City broke through in the 39th minute when Christian Caporaso scored his sixth goal of the season. Nich Leaman put a cross into the box where Caporaso to a touch and then put a shot past Lam inside the left post.

The Tartans nearly took the lead back in the first 15 minutes of the second half but a shot by sophomore Philip Petrakian (Redwood City, Calif./Sacred Heart Preparatory) was saved by Malcolm Blake and an attempt by Gulli was stopped by the defense. Another defensive save came in the 64th minute off a shot by Masciopinto.

It wasn't until the 85th minute that Grove City earned the game winner when an own goal by Carnegie Mellon gave the Wolverines the lead.

The Tartans will next face John Carroll University (3-3-1) on Sunday, September 25 at 2:00 p.m. in University Heights, Ohio.