LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall men's soccer team battled Elizabethtown for the Smith-Herr Boot on Saturday afternoon on Tylus Field. Although for official purposes the game will be recorded as a scoreless draw, Elizabethtown was able to secure the boot with a 5-3 advantage in penalty kicks that were used to decide bragging rights in the annual rivalry.
The Diplomats doubled up the visiting Blue Jays in shots, 14-7, but were unable to come away with the game-winning goal thanks in large part to five saves from Blue Jays' goalie Logan Sumner. The Blue Jays' defense also made a pair of goal line clearances during the opening half to keep the game scoreless throughout the 90 minutes of regulation time. Franklin & Marshall goalie Diego Moreno was called on to make just two saves during the second half to secure his part in the shutout.
Five different Diplomats finished with multiple shots on the afternoon, led by three each from Caden Darby and Sutton Hoehl. Hoehl put both of his shots on goal, with Jack Baer also adding two shots on goal to the team's attempts at scoring the game-winner.
In the shootout, Elizabethtown did not miss any of its five attempts which amplified the pressure on the F&M penalty takers. The Diplomats matched that perfect record until the fourth round when a shot rang off the crossbar in what was the only miss for either side.
After a string of home matches, men's soccer will head out on the road twice this week. The team first makes a trip to Juniata this Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. match under the Huntington lights. Centennial Conference play opens next Saturday, September 19 with a 7 p.m. start at Muhlenberg.
