Cal Graziano vs. Dickinson 9/5/15
1
Dickinson DCM (1-1)
2
Winner Elizabethtown ETWN-M (2-0)
Dickinson DCM
(1-1)
1
Final
2
Elizabethtown ETWN-M
(2-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Dickinson DCM 0 1 1
Elizabethtown ETWN-M 1 1 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Graziano lifts Blue Jays to 2-1 win over Dickinson

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – Two games into the 2015 season, Elizabethtown has scored four goals. Senior Cal Graziano has been involved in three of them, including both during Saturday's 2-1 win over Dickinson in the Brothers Pizza Blue Jay/Red Devil Classic. Graziano scored the game-winner with 16 minutes left as the Blue Jays improved to 2-0.

E-town (2-0) took advantage of an early season opportunity against a quality opponent that has been to the NCAA Division III tournament in each of the last four seasons.

Less than 10 minutes in, Shane Votto found Graziano out on the right flank. Graziano put a few quick touches on the ball and sent a ball across the goal mouth where freshman Gilbert Waso awaited, unmarked, for his first career goal. The Blue Jays have started quickly in both games this season, having scored twice in the opening 20 minutes of Tuesday's win over Penn State Harrisburg.

Skip Roderick's team controlled the pace throughout against the Red Devils (1-1), who were coming off a season-opening defeat of defending Landmark champion Catholic Tuesday. The Jays outshot Dickinson 7-2 in the first half and 13-4 for the game.

Though they were doing all the right things, the Blue Jays could not avoid a stroke of bad luck 16 minutes into the second half. A crossing attempt from Dickinson's Alfred Hylton-Dei, hit an Elizabethtown defender right in front of keeper Rodrigo Barrera and the own goal tied things 1-1 in the 62nd minute.

Enter Graziano for the answer. Fighting hard for possession in the final 20 minutes, Graziano and Red Devil keeper Jeremy Palcan came together at almost the same instant near the upper left corner of the 18-yard box. The Blue Jay forward got more of the ball, however, and it propelled over Palcan and into the right side of the net for a huge 2-1 lead.

Elizabethtown added a corner and another Graziano shot in the final 10 minutes, but the Red Devils never threatened again. Graziano outshot the visitors by himself, totaling a game-high five shots. Waso had three (two on goal) and Sam Feehrer two out of the midfield.

The Jays will be back on their home pitch tomorrow afternoon as they host DeSales, a 2-1 double overtime winner over Lebanon Valley in the second half of Saturday's doubleheader, at 2 p.m.
 
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