CHESTERTOWN — Washington College rallied from two goals down in the second half to stun No. 24-ranked University of Mary Washington, 3-2, in men’s soccer here on Saturday.
Junior Tucker Sprano scored all three goals for the Shoremen, who won for the third match in a row to improve to 3-2.
What held up as the game-winner was of highlight reel caliber as Sprano won the footrace with Mary Washington keeper Tristan Kickbush for a 50-50 ball, and then essentially walked it in in the 81st minute.
Sprano’s three goals equal his total from the two previous years.
Coach Roy Dunshee told The Evening Enterprise that Sprano had been a midfielder for two seasons, and only recently was tried out as a forward.
“Seems like it was a good move,” Dunshee wrote in an email Saturday night. “He [Sprano] has some very special qualities and they were on full display today.”
Mary Washington dented the scoreboard with just 2 minutes, 2 seconds elapsed when Sammy Amorose cashed in on a pass from Gerry Valoyi.
The visiting side took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at halftime — despite Washington holding a 6-3 edge in shots
The Eagles (3-3) made it 2-0 early in the second half — in the 49th minute — on an Elliot Berg goal that was set up by Amorose.
Sprano put the Shoremen on the board in the 55th minute. He received a pass from Tshazi Kamau at the top of the box and weaved his way through two defenders before striking the ball at the top right of the box. Sprano’s shot went over the hands of Kickbush and came to rest in the back of the net.
Just 3:59 later, the Kamau-to-Sprano connection leveled the score at 2-all.
Sprano, who would go on to be named the Centennial Conference offensive player of the week, completed his hat trick in the 81st minute. Kickbush came off the line to make a play on the ball, but Sprano was able to get around the Mary Washington keeper and win the ball for an open look at the goal.
Sprano led all players with seven shots.
For the match, Washington finished with 19 shots to Mary Wash’s 11.
First-year keeper Hannes Budde was credited with four saves, including three in the second half.
“I’m so proud of this group,” Dunshee wrote in the email to The Evening Enterprise. “We made some defensive errors, and they always get punished against a great team like Mary Washington. But we never looked defeated. The boys worked their socks off and kept hustling all over the field.”
Washington opens Centennial Conference play this Saturday against McDaniel at 7 p.m. here on the Kibler pitch.
The Green Terror are 6-0, all matches against non-conference opponents, and have given up only one goal.
In the preseason coaches poll, Washington landed in the middle of the 10-school Centennial, while McDaniel was picked to finish eighth.
Two-time defending conference champion Johns Hopkins edged 2024 NCAA Division III quarterfinalist Dickinson for the top spot, collecting six first-place votes and 77 points.
Dickinson received the other four first-place nods and totaled 73 points.
Franklin & Marshall (62) and Muhlenberg (61) came in at third and fourth, respectively, with Washington (47) and Swarthmore (45) also projected to make the six-team playoff tournament that begins Nov. 4.
Gettysburg (27), McDaniel (25), Haverford (17) and Ursinus (16) rounded out the poll.
Conference play for all 10 Centennial schools begins Saturday, Sept. 20.
One Response
What great photos!