WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University men's soccer team stayed close with Notre Dame of Maryland University for a half here Saturday afternoon at Hotchkiss Field during Mental Health Awareness Week.
 
The Bison only trailed 2-0 before the Gators tallied four goals in the second half. GU (1-4) got on the scoreboard with two goals in the final six minutes of play as they lost 6-2.

Gallaudet and Notre Dame (Md.) are members of the United East Conference but today's game was considered a non-conference contest since the two teams will meet again next month (Oct. 23) in Baltimore for a conference game.

Sophomore midfielder Samson Abraham (Seattle, Wash.) scored a goal on a penalty kick in the 84th minute. Abraham wasn't done as he assisted on Gallaudet's second and final goal. Abraham passed the ball from the left side of the field to the middle where first-year defender David Alegria (Donna, Texas) struck the ball into the net with six seconds left.

The Bison goals are the first for Abraham and Alegria this season.

Notre Dame (1-3) was led by freshman forward Athanasios Zilaskopoulos, who tallied five points on two goals and one assist. Sophomore midfielder Tassilo Lehmkuhl added two goals for the Gators. The two Notre Dame scorers are from Germany as the Gators have 10 different countries represented on their roster.

Gallaudet first-year goalie Luke McBrine (Weymouth, Mass.) made seven saves in net for the buff and blue.

Before the start of the game the two teams came together to show solidarity during Mental Health Awareness Week at GU. Former Gallaudet student-athlete Reza Mosher had a short presentation about the importance of Mental Health and how to get help. Gallaudet's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) staff handed out free t-shirts to fans to promote mental health awareness. If you are a Gallaudet student and you are in need of help please reach out to faculty and staff to help you. You can also reach out to CAPS at https://gallaudet.edu/counseling-psychological-services.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will regroup for a week before traveling to Frederick, Md., to take on Hood College (2-3) next Saturday, Sept. 21, for a 5 p.m. non-conference game.
   Men's soccer players from Gallaudet University and Notre Dame of Maryland University come together for a group photo during Mental Health Awareness Week.