Box Score Senior John Mastrella (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) and freshman Matt Hey (Canandaigua, NY/Marcus Whitman) each scored goals as the Keuka College men's soccer team twice rallied from one-goal deficits Wednesday night before falling to Alfred University, 3-2.
On a chilly, crisp evening at the Jephson Community Athletic Complex, the Storm (7-4) fell behind 1-0 on a 10th-minute goal from Jeffery Thomas. Freshman Preston Vick (Kendall, NY/Kendall) dove to his right and made the initial save on Frankie Mannino's shot, but Thomas corralled the rebound and scored to give the Saxons (3-10) the early lead.
Keuka responded with the equalizer in the 16th minute. Senior Nate Smith (Hilton, NY/Hilton) dribbled into the Alfred zone before sending a cross from 20 yards out to Mastrella. Mastrella received the pass eight yards out and scored towards the near post for his eighth goal of the season, and 26th of his Storm career, good for eighth on Keuka's all-time scoring list.
The Saxons took a 2-1 lead into halftime following a penalty kick goal from Mannino, as Alfred enjoyed a 9-5 edge in shots.
The two squads played a scoreless first 16 minutes of the second half before Hey knotted the score in the 62nd minute. Mastrella ripped a free kick shot on goal that bounced off keeper Samuel Guy's hands, and out to Hey, who sent his header into the middle of the goal for his second score of the season.
Keuka peppered Guy during much of the second half, with sophomore Austin Gerber (Churchville, NY/Churchville-Chili) having three solid looks on goal during a two-minute span midway through the half. But each time Keuka threatened, Guy made a big save.
The Saxons re-took the lead with 8:36 left in the half. Off a deflection, Uriah Kashmann-Myrow scored in the 82nd minute and despite a flurry of Keuka shots in the final two minutes, the Green and Gold could not rally to force overtime.
Vick finished with nine saves, tying his career-high. Guy made seven saves for the Saxons, who snapped a nine-game losing streak.
The Storm is off until a 7 p.m. home match Tuesday night, Oct. 16 against Elmira College, the fifth of six straight home games for the Green and Gold.