October 20, 2009

Box Score

EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University overcame a 2-1 deficit with two goals in the final 13 minutes, including the game-winning score by senior back Trevor Kelley with 4:12 to play, as the Warriors kept their PSAC East playoff hopes alive with a 3-2 win over Shippensburg on Tuesday night at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

Kelley’s third goal of the season and fifth of his career, all game-winners, was assisted by redshirt junior back Michael Kane during a flurry in front of the net and gave the Warriors their eighth victory of the season.

ESU (8-7-1, 2-3-1), the recipient of a Shippensburg own goal just 3:19 into the contest, found itself down 2-1 after Deon Rehm broke in off the left wing and scored with 13:13 remaining. Scott Smith tied the game for Shippensburg in the 36th minute, assisted by Michael Celius.

The Warriors answered Rehm’s goal with a burst from senior forward Jason Rudder, who was fouled in the penalty box three minutes later, and senior midfielder Toric Robinson capitalized on the penalty kick to level the score at 2-2. Robinson has five goals this season and is perfect on three chances from the penalty spot.

Kelley also netted game-winning goals this season in a 2-1 victory at Mercyhurst (in the 72nd minute) and a 1-0 win at Lock Haven, when his header found the net with 15 seconds left.

Clay Sale had five saves for Shippensburg, which held a 14-13 edge in shots. The Warriors led 5-4 in corner kicks in an evenly played game and senior goalkeeper Larry Pokrywa made three saves.

ESU will be pulling for a Shippensburg win when the Raiders play Bloomsburg on Saturday afternoon, a pivotal game for the Warriors’ PSAC playoff chances. The Warriors are back in action in eight days, traveling to Bloomsburg on Wednesday, Oct. 28, and close the regular season at home against West Chester on Saturday, Oct. 31.