SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's soccer team withstood a second-half rally from visiting Shepherd to defeat the Rams, 3-2, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup at David See Field.
 
Shippensburg (1-2-2, 1-2-0 PSAC East) came out quick with two goals in the first 11 minutes. In the third minute, redshirt-junior Patrick Joyner sent a cross that was headed in by sophomore Seth Crabbe. It was Crabbe's team-leading third goal of the season.
 
Later, in the 11th minute, senior Owen Iacobelli struck a corner kick that was headed in by freshman Avery Warrick at the far post, ricocheting off the near post and trickling in at the far post. The score would remain 2-0 at halftime.
 
In the 63rd minute, the Raiders made it 3-0 when Iacobelli scored off a pass from Crabbe.
 
Shepherd (1-5-0, 0-2-0) did not let up, and answered with its first goal just six minutes later when Andrew Tinna sent a cross into Carlos Castillo, who headed the ball into the net. Ten minutes later, after a foul outside the SU box, Shamar Robinson shot the resulting free kick into the net to bring the match within one.
 
The end of the match was intense, as the Rams earned a corner kick and goalkeeper Billy Wood came into the offensive zone in the final minute. The Raiders staved off four Ram shots on goal down the stretch, including one by Wood, to claim their first victory of the season.
 
Shots on goal ended up 5-4 in Shepherd's favor, and corner kicks were even at six apiece. Raider freshman goalkeeper Cody Willoughby finished with three saves, including a diving stop in each half.
 
Shippensburg returns to action at 7 p.m. Saturday with an out-of-conference match at Alderson Broaddus at Multi-Sport Performance Stadium.