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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Duquesne
Men's Soccer Explodes For 4-1 Victory Over Duquesne At Penn Soccer Classic
September 15, 2006 | Men's Soccer
PHILADELPHIA--The Princeton men's soccer team has showcased both clutch goal scoring and the ability to respond well to an opposing goal in the early season. Both were on full display Friday afternoon in Philadelphia against Duquesne.
Less than two minutes after the Dukes tied the game and seemingly took all of the momentum, Princeton struck back. The Tigers scored three times in span of less than six minutes in the second half, including two goals in a one-minute span that put the game away, to defeat Duquesne by a 4-1 score on the first day of the Penn Soccer Classic at Rhodes Field.
The game winner came in the 69th minute when Brad Fechter scored his first career goal, taking a rebound of Dan Cummins' first attempt off Duquesne goalie Zach Varga and drilling a shot into the open net. But the Tigers (3-1-1) weren't finished after taking the lead.
In the 73rd minute, Kyle McHugh's corner kick came right back to McHugh on the right side, and Jame Wunsch then headed in a terrific cross from McHugh to make it 3-1. Exactly one minute later, Cummins found room through defenders near the top of the box and drilled a left-footed shot past Varga, giving Princeton an insurmountable 4-1 lead.
"We did well to respond to their goal when it seemed like they were controlling the play," said Princeton coach Jim Barlow. "I think this team has done that a lot so far this year. We got some nice plays from people we are going to need to make those kinds of plays throughout the season."
The Dukes (3-3-1), ranked eighth in the North Atlantic region, trailed 1-0 at halftime but tied the game in the 67th minute. Substitute Mike McCutcheon, who had entered the game just seconds earlier, was on the receiving end of a Evan Browne cross and hit a right-footed shot past Princeton goalie Justin Oppenheimer.
Princeton took a 1-0 lead into halftime thanks to McHugh's first goal of the season, a nifty play off a free kick opportunity well outside the box. Devin Muntz slickly backheeled the ball to McHugh, who wheeled to his right and sent a powerful blast past Varga into the lower right corner of the net.
Duquesne had an earlier chance in the second half to tie the game, but Nick Balara's blast was saved by Oppenheimer over the end line with a dive to his right.
Matt Kontos added an assist on Cummins' goal, while Robbie Morgenroth also had an assist on the game winner, taking a long pass from the left wing and controlling it to Cummins before it went over the end line.
Princeton's four goals were its most in a game since defeating Saint Peter's 4-2 in October 2004. The Tigers have now scored at least three goals twice in five games this season.
The Tigers play Saint Joseph's on Sunday afternoon at noon at Rhodes Field to conclude play at the Penn Soccer Classic.