CHC men secure first soccer win

by TOM UTESCHER

When they traveled to Philadelphia Biblical University last Thursday afternoon, Chestnut Hill College’s soccer Griffins were seeking two things; their first goal and their first victory.

The brand new CHC men’s franchise, which had been shut out in its first three games this season, achieved both of its objectives against Philly Bible, scoring not once but three times to capture a 3-2 overtime win over the host Crimson Eagles (3-5).

Trailing 0-2 at halftime, the Griffs pulled even in the second period on a pair of goals by junior striker Joe Grinkewicz, who played high school ball at William W. Bodine and then spent two years at Delaware Valley College before transferring to Chestnut Hill this fall. Fellow junior Mike McDonald, who is also a member of the CHC basketball team, was credited with assists on both goals. Freshman Boyd McCorkle sealed the deal for the visitors, firing the gamewinner in the first period of sudden-death overtime.

The Griffins’ play in the first half gave few indications that they were about to snap their scoreless streak in convincing fashion. Most of Chestnut Hill’s offensive efforts consisted of outside shots taken from low-percentage angles. They also had trouble trying to clear the ball out of their own defensive end, problems which helped lead to both PBU goals.

Philly Bible got on the board quickly, as Andy Miller’s shot from the 18 went in near the left post about ten minutes into the game. The Crimson Eagles went up 2-0 with 16 minutes left in the opening period, when Bryan Ebersole drove towards the right post and then shot across into the left side of the cage.

Greg Webb, a co-captain and key defender for CHC, went off with a contusion on his shin about two minutes after the second PBU goal. He was able to return for the second half, playing in front of new goaltender Joe Swoyer, who had replaced starter George Binaco in the nets. Swoyer, in turn, yielded his spot to Steve Foster with 24:10 left in the game. All three CHC keepers are freshmen.

Chestnut Hill’s passing game and general field awareness looked much improved as the second half got underway. From out of a clump of players in the left side of the hosts’ penalty area, Grinkewicz aimed a shot inside the near post to get the Griffins on the board with 11:40 elapsed.

Soon after Foster entered the game as CHC’s third netminder of the afternoon, the Crimson Eagles almost extended their lead on a shot off the crossbar by Ebersole. The ball bounced straight down off of the beam, but did not cross the goal line, according to the officials.

Instead, the fourth goal in the match belonged to Chestnut Hill’s Grinkewicz. From out along the left endline McDonald passed the ball inside to his junior classmate, and Grinkewicz guided it in from a few yards in front of the near post. The score was now 2-2 with 12 minutes remaining in regulation play, and before long the teams were lining up for a pair of ten-minute sudden death overtime stints.

Midway through the first of these extra periods a row of Griffins advanced towards the PBU 18 and freshman Jeff Lewin, a little right of center, passed the ball laterally to his left. With a defender on his shoulder, CHC’s McCorkle stepped in to control the ball, and with his left foot rifled it 20 yards into the Eagles’ nest. Due to a stretched quad and hamstring, the freshman had stayed on the bench until late in the second half of the game, but he made the most of his minutes on the field as the Griffins nailed down the first men’s soccer victory ever for Chestnut Hill.