The Malone Pioneers men's soccer team posted a 2-1 victory in their opening match against Daemen College Thursday afternoon. Malone begins their 2019 campaign 1-0 and Daemen falls to 0-1.
 
In the first half, Malone had ample opportunities to score, but could not convert. The Pioneers took 10 shots, five of them on goal, but the Wildcat defense stood tall and goalkeeper Jarrett Lecceadone made five saves. The score was 0-0 going into the locker rooms at half.
 
Both teams were able to convert on opportunities they had in back half of the contest. The Pioneers opened up the scoring on a Patrick Brightbill header in the 62nd minute, set up by a beautiful corner kick by Jake Martell.
 
Daemen stormed right back however, striking for a goal just one minute later. Wildcat defender Pontus Lundin scored a goal on a penalty kick to even the match back up.
 
After a goal kick by Alexandre Durand, Brightbill dribbled the ball up the left side of the pitch and crossed it to a slashing Patrick Alvarez, who netted the golden goal with his left foot to give Malone a 2-1 advantage.
 
The defense of the Pioneers would stand strong in the closing minutes and keep the ball on the attacking side of the field to seal the victory.
 
Brightbill and Alvarez each scored their first points of the season. Jake Martell received an assist on the first goal and Brightbill recorded an assist on the second.
 
Evan Dekker took a game-high four shots, three of them shots on goal. Freshman Antoine Leheron saw 66 minutes in his first collegiate game and took three shots, one on goal.
 
Seniors Nick Fry, Jonathan Dendinger and Gino Finelli all played a full 90 minute game.
 
In goal, Durand totaled two saves on seven shots faced and picked up the victory.
 
As a team, the Pioneers outshot the Wildcats 19-7 and had more fouls, 15-9. Daemen had seven saves to Malone's two and had seven corner kicks to Malone's three.
 
Up next for the Pioneer men is another road contest in upstate New York, this time against the Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks. Kick-off will be Saturday, September 7 at 3:30 pm.