California (PA) Spoils Bloomsburg's Multi-Purpose Stadium Opener

BLOOMSBURG--The California (PA) University men's soccer team spoiled the opening of Bloomsburg University's $1.5 million multi-purpose stadium with a 2-1 win over the Huskies on Saturday. The game was physical throughout with two players on each team receiving red cards.

The Huskies got on the board first, when Eric Moninghoff (Upper Black Eddy/ Palisades) scored the first ever goal in the new multi-purpose stadium in the 15th minute. The Huskies took the 1-0 lead into halftime.

However, the Vulcans evened the score in the 46th minute when Emedin Sabic connected with Felipe Souza to tie the score at 1-1. Then in the 62nd minute a scuffle for the ball between California goalkeeper Philip Micken and the Huskies John Brittingham (Stockton, MD/ Pocomoke) led to the ejection of Micken and Brittingham as well as Bloomsburg's Josh Prall (Clarks Summit /Abington Heights). Bloomsburg was forced to play a man short for the majority of the game.

Then in the 82nd minute, California's Sheldon Graham broke the tie on another assist from Sabic to give the Vulcans a 2-1 lead. However, after the goal, Graham was ejected for taunting the Bloomsburg crowd.

Bloomsburg was then able to mount several scoring opportunities in the final eight minutes but were unable to put a goal past the Vulcans Alan Alcade, who replaced Micken at goalkeeper.

With the loss, the Huskies fall to 0-1,0-1 in the PSAC, while California improves to 1-1, 1-0 in the PSAC. Bloomsburg will be back in action on Wednesday, when they host East Stroudsburg at 7:30 p.m.