CARLISLE, PA. – Despite outshooting Dickinson 13-10, the William Paterson University men's soccer team came up short in their 2017 opener, falling to the Red Devils 4-1 in their opening match of the Elizabethtown Tournament.
 
The Pioneers (0-1, 0-0 NJAC) put together a strong effort in the opening 45 minutes, firing six shots, and forcing Dickinson keeper Frederick Meagher to make three saves but could not find the back of the net. On the other end of the pitch, senior Tim Morris stopped the only shot on target from the Red Devils, and the two squads entered the halftime break scoreless.
 
The blank scoreboard would soon change however, as Dickinson (1-0, 0-0 Centennial) took the lead just over two minutes into the second half. William Paterson responded strong over the next twenty minutes of action, earning three corner kicks and a shot on goal while holding the Red Devils without a shot over that span. The effort was not enough though as Dickinson's attack broke through in the 73rd minute, finding the back of the net to extend the lead and delivered another blow less than two minutes later to make it a 3-0 game.
 
Needing a spark offensively, the Pioneers again responded strong, this time breaking through two minutes later when sophomore Cameron Allen found junior Ryan Bartel for the first goal of the season, cutting the deficit to two goals. It would not be enough for the Pioneers though, as Dickinson tacked on a final goal in the 79th minute to put the game out of reach.
 
The Pioneers will not have to wait long for their next chance to pick up their first win of the year when they travel to host Elizabethtown tomorrow evening for a 7:00 pm kickoff with the Blue Jays.
 
For all of the latest information on the Pioneers, visit http://www.wpupioneers.com and http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia.