After a rough previous week, the Shippensburg University men’s soccer team bounced back with two wins in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) against the Bloomsburg University Huskies and the Mountain Cats of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. The wins improved the Raiders to 3–3 in the PSAC.

The Raiders traveled to Bloomsburg on Wednesday, looking to bounce back after a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to East Stroudsburg University and a 4–1 loss to Seton Hill University. 

The match was a tough, defensive battle for the entire first half, with both teams only mustering seven total shots. SU was unable to get a shot on target in the half.

The second half was just more of the same for both squads, as they went on to combine for 10 total shots in the period, four of which were on target. Bloomsburg had the majority of the chances, but a sturdy SU defense kept the Huskies at bay.

Garrett Watson was stellar in net for the Raiders, saving all six shots he faced, keeping his team in the game and earning his fourth-career shutout. The Raiders came close to a breakthrough in the 72nd minute when defender Jamie Blair connected with a header that was cleared off the line by a Bloomsburg defender.

That was as close as either of the teams would get to scoring in regulation and extra time was needed for the fourth time this team for SU. 

Both teams registered a shot on goal in the first period of overtime, but it was not until the second half that there was a winning goal.

SU’s breakout star Cole Kropnick was the overtime hero for the squad as he picked up his second game-winning goal of the season and his ninth overall. The ball fell to Kropnick after a deflected free kick and he calmly beat the Huskies’ keeper to send the fans home.

The Raiders left Bloomsburg with regained confidence to take on a winless UPJ at home. The team scored in less than a minute after a great assist from defender Jan Striewe found Kropnick, who finished the move for his 10th of the season. 

Kropnick has now scored the most goals for the Raiders since alumnus Derrick Roy scored 11 in 2013, a season which saw SU reach the PSAC quarterfinals.

“He’s [Kropnick] massive for the team. Cole’s really, really stepped up,” head coach Jeremy Spering said. “He and I had a big talk and he’s made some fantastic changes and approaching the game more professionally,” 

Eleven minutes later, the Raiders added to their lead with Striewe adding a tally of his own after finding the loose ball in the box. Striewe did not disappoint from five yards out, collecting his fifth of the season. Striewe is now only one goal away from his season total from last year.

The referees made several calls throughout the game and were inconsistent in their rulings on fouls. Officials were lenient when it came to cards but still issued four yellow cards during the game. 

Kropnick, the team’s leading scorer, has now accumulated five yellow cards, forcing him to miss SU’s next game.SU crushed UPJ in the shots category, racking up 32 total as opposed to UPJ’s five. 

The Mountain Cats’ goalie was up to the challenge, making 12 saves on the Raiders’ 14 shots on goal, doing his best to give his teammates a chance to make a comeback.

UPJ almost grabbed one back with less than 10 minutes to go when it had a one-on-one with Watson and the ball was pulled just wide of the net. Watson earned his second shutout of the season and his second in a row in the win.

After the game, Spering was pleased with the win, but admitted it was not one of the team’s stronger showings. 

“I don’t think it was our best performance, however I think we got the job done and got the three points and that’s what matters,” Spering said “We’re ahead of where we were in points last year.”

Looking ahead to SU’s remaining schedule, the team has tough matchups against West Chester University, who is undefeated in the PSAC so far this season, and Millersville University. 

The team has hopes of reaching the playoffs and should split its last five games if it wants to have a chance of achieving that goal.

“We’re in the picture, that’s the big thing. Just as a coach, you hope that at this point, you’re in the picture,” Spering said.

The Raiders will face the California University of Pennsylvania Friday at 1:30 p.m. at home in a must-win game. The Raiders will have two more home matches after its matchup with California.

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