WASHINGTON, D.C. — It was a night to remember for the Catholic University men's soccer team on Tuesday as Travis Beauchamp's side put six past Goucher.
Yet again it was a quick start that set the Cardinals up for success.
Just 80 seconds into the match, Ben Zimmer pushed Catholic ahead. Good work from Ryan Bradby allowed the Cardinals to keep the ball in the attacking third. Two seniors connected as Bradby found Gordie Bernlohr, who beat two defenders on the left flank before delivering a perfect low ball for Zimmer to tap home.
With the early tally, the Cardinals have now scored inside the opening 90 seconds of three of its last four home matches. And it didn't take long for Catholic to double its advantage.
Just 78 seconds after the ensuing kickoff, Ryan Kelly set up Bernlohr for his team-leading eighth goal of the season. Kelly was the beneficiary of a poor Goucher pass in the midfield, and after gaining possession, played an intricate ball to find the talisman in between two defenders. Bernlohr took one touch to shift it onto his left foot before finishing brilliantly into the far corner.
Catholic continued to turn the screw and did not allow the Gophers to get a foothold in the match. In the 12th minute, Kelly again took on the role of provider, this time picking out Domenico Caltabiano.
A pinpoint Andrew Lowman cross from the left was inch-perfect for Kelly, who chested the ball back to Caltabiano. The junior cleverly took a half-a-second to steady himself before looping the strike over the goalkeeper with a half-volley, effectively chipping the Goucher shotstopper from the top of the penalty area.
Goucher did pull one back 12 minutes before halftime but it remained all Catholic in the second half.
Kelly then turned scorer in the 70th minute when he stepped up to convert a penalty kick. Ryan Kuegler earned the spot kick after being fouled after he raced onto a rebound following his own shot.
Freshman Peter Schmidt then announced himself on the scene late in the match, scoring his first two goals in a Catholic kit.
Just 14 seconds after entering the match as a substitute, he arrived at the back post to finish off a Catholic corner. Kuegler delivered the initial service but a telling flick by Maximilian Penczar picked out Schmidt.
The freshman doubled his tally very late on when he was quickest to react after a Lorenzo Carletti shot was saved. Joe DeAngelis also played a key role in the build-up.
The result marks first time in Kelly's career that he has provided two assists in the same match and also the first time he has posted three goal contributions in the same contest.
Every eligible outfield player saw game action and contributed to the victory that takes Catholic 5-0-2 in Landmark Conference play. The comprehensive win keeps the pressure on Lycoming, who currently hold a slim lead on the Cardinals for the top spot in the conference.
The Cardinals will finish the season on a three-game road trip, with conference matches against Wilkes and Juniata sandwiching a non-conference match against No. 2 Mary Washington.
