WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University men's soccer bench poured onto Hotchkiss Field after the final whistle blew as Bison players dogpiled on a goalie replacement, who was thrusted into the game during a key time of Wednesday's conference opener against University of Valley Forge. GU held onto a 2-1 victory over the Patriots under the lights in the nation's capital.

First year Jeremy Novas-Duran (Salem, Mass.) traded in a white Gallaudet field jersey for a light blue goalie jersey and played the final 20 minutes in net for the Bison. Novas-Duran came up big as he saved a penalty kick shot made by Valley Forge and then made two successive shots in the 77th minute to preserve the one-goal Bison advantage.

Novas-Duran finished with a career-high six saves after starting goalie Luke McBrine (Weymouth, Mass.) got injured in the 70th minute. McBrine left the game with three saves and only one goal allowed.

Gallaudet (2-7, 1-0 United East) pulled off the gritty win against Valley Forge (2-10, 0-2 United East) in the conference opener for the Bison. The two teams combined for 32 fouls and five yellow cards in a closely called game on the pitch. 

The Bison wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the first half when sophomore midfielder Samson Abraham (Seattle, Wash.) scored off a long throw-in assist from junior defender Troy Holcomb (Fremont, Calif.) just five minutes in. 

Abraham finished another scoring opportunity in the 29th minute. A failed clear by the Patriots defense allowed first year defender Sadam Mohamed (Dadaab, Kenya) to possess the loose ball and pass it to a streaking Abraham, who fired a high shot past UVF goalie Juan Garcia Flores (five saves), for his third goal this season.

Valley Forge answered five minutes later when the Patriots scored off a long throw-in from the nearside to the middle of the goalie box. There was a scrum of Bison defenders and Patriot players on offense in the mix. Jorge Rojas got his back on the ball and was able to deflect it into the Bison net.

Gallaudet led 2-1 at the half and held a 7-6 shot advantage over Valley Forge.

The two teams played a scoreless second half.

GU trailed in several key statistical categories against Valley Forge including shots (13-16) and corner kicks (3-7) but the Bison held the advantage they need the most, 2-1 in goals.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet heads north to Williamsport, Pa., this Saturday, Oct. 5, for a 3:30 p.m. conference game against Penn College (6-4-1, 1-1 United East).