WASHINGTON - Ricardo Villar scored two second-half goals as Penn State rallied from a first-half deficit to defeat American, 2-1, here in men's soccer on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Penn State (9-3-1) controlled play early on, but American reversed the flow in the 21st minute when Melvin Epsinal hit a ball that went just over the cross bar. From that point, the Eagles had several excellent scoring chances in the first half, including two strikes from Kris Bertsch that both went just wide of its mark.
American (6-7-1) finally broke through in the 29th minute when Andrew Herman took a long lead pass from the left flank and crossed it to Adam Rosen in the middle of the field. Rosen's touch went off Penn State defender Brett Forbrich and caromed past a diving Nittany Lion keeper Ryan Sickman.
The second half was very even until the 70th minute, when Penn State earned a corner kick that changed the momentum completely. Off the restart, Derek Potteiger directed the ball to Chris Stout in the middle of the box . Stout headed it to the lower-left corner of the goalmouth to Villar, who was waiting at the post, and he deposited the ball into the back of the net, tying the game at 1.
Less than three minutes later, Villar struck again on another play which started with corner kick. After Potteiger sent the ball back into play, Brett Forbrich ripped a shot from outside the 18-yard box which was knocked directly to a waiting Villar in front of the goal. He slipped it into the lower right corner of the goal, pushing the Nittany Lions ahead for good, 2-1.
American regrouped and made a late charge at the Nittany Lions. Two excellent plays off corner kicks gave the Eagles a chance at tying the game, but did not pan out. Penn State took six corners to American's five this afternoon, while the Nittany Lions also outshot the Eagles, 7-5.
American returns to action on Wednesday, Oct. 31, when it travels to Richmond, Va., for a 7:00 p.m. match with former Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) rival VCU. The Eagles return home for an important Patriot League match against Lehigh on Saturday, Nov. 3, beginning at 2:00 p.m.
