The Voice

Issue date: 9/5/02 Section: sports

Bloomfield goaltender Ray Kowallk (23) attempts to block a header in Bloomsburg’s 6-2 win Sunday.

Bloomfield goaltender Ray Kowallk readies for a shot from Bloomsburg’s Brent Leibelsperger (20).

After a decent 9-5-2 record during the 2001 season, the Bloomsburg University men's soccer squad jumpstarted the 2002 season with two convincing victories this past weekend, resulting in a first place finish at the Bloomsburg Fall Soccer Classic.

On Sunday afternoon, the Huskies faced Bloomfield College in the tournament's final match to determine a champion. Bloomsburg dominated from start to finish, winning 6-2.

Adam Clay blasted the first Husky goal in the sixth minute of play, taking a brilliant pass from senior Mike Ross.

Bloomfield answered back in the 28th minute with a goal on a penalty kick from Christian Pardo.

Bloomsburg responded 15 minutes later as junior Brent Leibelsperger beat the keeper, putting the Huskies back in the lead, 2-1. A minute after Leibelsperger's goal, Travis Martzall knocked in another score for the Huskies, opening the floodgates for a potential blowout.

Mickey Bumbarger, Leibelsperger and Santo Giannotti all added second half goals, while goalkeeper Kevin Wright was nearly perfect for Bloom, allowing only two goals in the Huskies' 6-2 victory.

"This was a really solid start to our season," Leibelsperger said. "We finished our opportunities. If the ball came to us in front of the net, we put it away."

A day earlier, the Huskies faced the Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats. Once again, the Huskies played with reckless abandon.

Although they went into the locker room with only a 1-0 lead at halftime off a Chris Cummins goal in the 44th minute, the second half proved to be all Bloomsburg.

They added four more goals from Clay, Greg Pompei, Leibelsperger and Martzall. Dustin Henry, Bloomsburg's other starting keeper, posted the shutout without making a single save. The Huskies solid defense allowed not a single shot on goal.

"We have the best goalies in the [Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference] PSAC," Leibelsperger said. "Whichever guy is in net, the team feels just as confident."

It is no mistake he said "goalies" instead of goalie because the Huskies will use two keepers, as it did in the 2001 season. Both Henry and Wright will start every other game this season.

The Huskies are very optimistic about this season. According to Leibelsperger, East Stroudsburg University and West Chester University could be major roadblocks on the road to a PSAC championship. However, he is confident that the Huskies will in fact win the PSAC.

The Huskies next opponent will be New York Tech at the Bald Eagle Admiral Classic this weekend at Lock Haven University.

"We have to take it one game at a time," Bumbarger said. "If we take it one step at a time, we can definitely come out victorious."

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