ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – A penalty kick in the 87th minute lifted the No. 18 Haverford College men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Elizabethtown College on Saturday afternoon during the first day of the Jimmy Mills Tournament. Two the Fords' three victories to start the 2017 season have come against NCAA Tournament teams in 2016 as the Blue Jays came into today's contest receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll.
Jannelli's goal marked the third straight game during which he has scored to start his sophomore season. Scoring twice in each of the first two contests, he now has five goals on the year and has tallied the game-winner during each of Haverford's victories this fall. His goal on Saturday came after Peter Baroff was taken down from behind on a slide tackle inside of the 18 as he was trying to work around his defender.
The reigning Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year finished the afternoon with a team-high four shots, and it was on that fourth shot attempt of the afternoon that Jannelli made his third career penalty kick in as many tries. He now has four career game-winning goals.
Elizabethtown amassed 14 shots during the afternoon. The two best scoring chances for the Blue Jays came during the 67th minute when Pedro Andrade missed wide of goal and later in the 84th minute when Gilbert Waso missed in that same fashion. Waso ended the contest with a match-high six shots, but put just one of those chances on frame.
Jeremy Astesano completed his afternoon with three saves to match his Elizabethtown counterpart in that department. Astesano recorded his 10th career victory with his second shutout of the year. He remains unbeaten with three draws to his collegiate record. Although the Blue Jays finished with a higher shot quantity, the Fords had more attempts on target as the Haverford defense forced nine of the Blue Jays' attempts either high or wide of the goal while also knocking down two shots before they could get on goal.
The Jimmy Mills Tournament continues tomorrow with the same four teams coming to Walton Field for the second day of competition. Haverford will host Catholic in a 1 p.m. start on Sunday while Elizabethtown will play Eastern after the Eagles hosted Saturday's action. Sunday's contest will also mark the official home opener for the Fords after their historic 2-1 win on Wednesday was moved to Rosemont due to rain soaking the field prior to game time.