WAYNESBURG, Pa. (September 11) – The Waynesburg University men's soccer team scored twice in the opening 10 minutes but fell 3-2 in its home opener at John F. Wiley Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Jackets fall to 2-1 on the year while UPG moves to 1-3-1 overall.

The Jackets opened the scoring in the game's eighth minute as Sarpong Kwabiah (Odenton, Md. / Meade) took the ball off a UPG defender near the end line and blasted a shot off the right post. The rebound pinged to the opposite post where Matthew Serrano (North Potomac, Md. / Thomas S. Wootton) one-timed a left-footed shot into the lower left corner for his first goal of the season.

Waynesburg added a goal less than a minute later as Zachary Johnson (Raceland, Ky. / Saint Joseph Central Catholic) threaded a pass between both Bobcat center backs to Kwabiah, who beat the charging UPG keeper to put the Jackets up 2-0.

Kwabiah was shown a red card following a challenge in the 20th minute, leaving the Jackets a man down for the remainder of the contest.

With just over five minutes left in the half, Sam Norris (Natrona Heights, Pa. / Highlands) defused one of UPG's top chances of the first half with a well-timed slide tackle to disrupt a potential scoring opportunity inside the 18-yard box.

Despite both teams notching seven shots in the first half, Waynesburg carried a 2-0 lead into the halftime break. 

The Bobcats struck narrowed the margin to a single goal with a direct free kick goal from 25 yards out in the 53rd minute, tucked inside the left post.

Waynesburg goalie Michael Francus (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel) made a pair of stops in the following five minutes on a pair of well-struck shots in the 59th and 60th minutes.

UPG found an equalizer in the 71st minute with the Bobcats' Arlo McIntyre recording his second goal of the contest from a similar location from his free kick score. He collected a header from the Waynesburg back line and ripped a shot from 20 yards out 

The Bobcats took the lead for the first time in the 77th minute as the Bobcats dribbled to the penalty spot and scored to take a 3-2 lead.

Waynesburg had an opportunity in the 84th with a cross from the left end line to Johnson, but his attempt sailed wide.

Both teams had eight shots on target with UPG taking one more shot overall (15-14). The Jackets had a 6-3 edge in penalty kicks.

Five players took multiple shots with Serrano leading the team with three shots, all on goal. Kwabiah recorded a point for a third-straight game to open the season. Francus finished with five saves on the day.
 
The Jackets host Baldwin Wallace on Saturday at 1 p.m.