Opara and Sjoberg score goals for Panthers 

            LEWISTON, Maine – Plymouth State University scored twice in the first 25 minutes and withstood a second-half rally Tuesday afternoon to notch a 2-1 non-conference men's soccer win over Bates College at Russell Street Field.

            Freshman forwards Arthur Opara (Abuja, Nigeria) and Jake Sjoberg (Linkoping, Sweden) provided the offense for PSU and senior goalie Dan Salzer (Dover, N.H.) made the most of his first start of the season.  The Panthers raise their record to 2-3-1 with their first win since the season opener, while Bates drops to 1-2-1.

            Opara got Plymouth State on the board in the eighth minute, taking a pass from classmate Moses Igah (Abuja, Nigeria) and blasting a 25-yard shot inside the far corner of the goal, where Bates junior goalie Greg Watts (West Chester, Pa.) had no chance for the save.   Sjoberg made it 2-0 for PSU with 20:44 left in the first half with an impressive shot from the top of the Bates penalty area

            Plymouth State outshot Bates by a 10-5 margin in the first half, but Bates reversed that in the second half, compelling Salzer to make three of his five saves in the game. Watts made four of his five saves in the first half for Bates.

            Bates closed the deficit to 2-1 with 23:33 left in the second half when freshman back Dan Remillard (Hanover, N.J.) curled a corner kick past Salzer for his first collegiate goal. Bates missed several outstanding scoring chances in the final 20 minutes of the game.

            Bates plays at NESCAC rival Trinity on Saturday at 12 p.m.; Plymouth State will host Southern Maine in a Little East game on Saturday at 1 p.m. 

(Courtesy of Bates Sports Information)

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