Gallery: (10-29-2025) 2025 Men's Soccer vs. Shepherd
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's soccer team engaged in a raucous, madcap match with regional rival Shepherd on Wednesday but could not stave off the Rams in the end, dropping a 4-3 decision to the visitors in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup on a rainy, cold night at David See Field.
Shippensburg (3-7-4, 0-5-3 PSAC East) efficiently capitalized on a pair of corner kicks in the first half to lead 2-0 at halftime. In the 21st minute,
Ethan Omondi sent a brilliant ball to which
Liam Heitmann leapt high into the air and headed home a finish to open the scoring.
Less than 90 seconds before the intermission,
Cam Henry delivered a corner that traveled toward the back post, at which
Nate Herb delivered a low header into the right corner of the net to make it 2-0.
Shepherd (6-9-0, 3-5-0) scored its first of four second-half goals just 2:34 after the intermission, converting a tight passing play just outside the box. Less than two minutes later, the score became equal at 2-2 as the result of an own goal – the Rams delivered a free kick that ricocheted into the net off the head of a Raider defender.
Despite the buzzing pace and frenetic action of the match, play remained level for the next 20-plus minutes. During this stretch,
Ryan Krumenacker delivered a ten-bell diving stop – one of his eight saves – to keep the match even.
In the 74th minute, however, Shippensburg gained its second lead of the match as
Ethan Paulukow converted a penalty kick after a foul in the box.
The Raider lead lasted just 61 seconds, as the Rams once again benefitted from a brilliant left-footed cross by Dylan Shepherd. His dangerous free kick into the box went directly to the head of Sterling Harris – whose redirect found the back of the net and made it 3-3.
Fifty-one seconds later, as the rain began to intensify, Shepherd gained its first and only lead of the match. A handball in the box resulted in a penalty that was converted by Josh Petty, creating the final 4-3 margin.
The spirited clash went goalless over the final 15 minutes but not without a lack of effort from both sides – including two more stops in the final five by Krumenacker. The Raiders nearly found the equalizer with 80 seconds to go, but a rocket from close range by Herb was denied by Ram keeper Aidan Houck.
Shepherd ended up with an 11-5 advantage in shots on target and a 6-4 edge in corner kicks. All four of Shippensburg's corners were attempted in the first half. The teams combined for four yellow cards.
Shippensburg hosts East Stroudsburg at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at David See Field. Before the match – SU's final home game of the regular season – the team will honor three seniors:
Darius Bamfo,
Luke Kramer and Paulukow.
