WASHINGTON - The 2023 season got off on the right foot for the Gallaudet University men's soccer team as the Bison scored in the opening minutes against University of Valley Forge at a festive Hotchkiss Field.

First-year midfielder Samson Abraham (Seattle, Wash.) buried a shot past Valley Forge goalie Brandon Thompson (two saves) just five minutes into the game. Sophomore Hammad Khan (Little Rock, Ark.) made a great pass to set things up for Samson.

In the physical game, Valley Forge answered with three unanswered goals to take a 3-1 lead into halftime. 

GU came out of the break motivated and played spirited against the Patriots. Junior Bode Aggas (West Henrietta, N.Y.) scored his first career goal off an assist from Abraham in the 53rd minute as the Bison trimmed the lead to one, 3-2.

That was as close as Gallaudet (0-1) got as Valley Forge (1-0) netted the final three goals of the contest. John Sumo scored his second goal of the game in the 69th minute while the Patriots scored in the 82nd and with 12 seconds left to cap the scoring.

Sophomore goalie Adem Mahassini (Queens, N.Y.) made a career-high eight saves in the loss.

Valley Forge, now a member of the United East Conference, competes in the Skye Division for men's soccer while GU is in the Volt Division. This game was considered a non-conference game for both teams.

The Patriots will face Alfred State College (0-0) tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 2) at 11 a.m. at Hotchkiss Field.

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Gallaudet will host Alfred State on Sunday, Sept. 3, at 3 p.m.