EMMITSBURG, Md. (October 19, 2022) – Led by junior Jesus Salazar, Mount St. Mary's men's soccer put themselves back in playoff position with a 3-2 victory over the Rider Broncs Wednesday.
 
Salazar scored the Mount's first goal – at the time an equalizer – and assisted on the winner for a total of three points on the evening. His 16 points and eight assists are team highs, and his goal count of four ties Ruben Kiers for the team lead. 
 
With a 3-3-1 record (7-6-1 overall) in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), Mount St. Mary's jumps over Fairfield for sixth place in the league. The top six teams make the cut for the postseason, so Wednesday's decision puts the Mount in the driver's seat with three matches to play.
 
Rider got on the scoreboard first on a shot from Nick Cruz. The lead lasted about eight minutes before Salazar's game tying goal – a strike from the left edge of the box. Mount grabbed the halftime advantage off the foot of freshman Ethan Glaser. The first year forward received passes from Nathan Macek and Ian Buckwalter, planting home a shot from a similar position as the first goal.
 
A few minutes into the second half the Broncs managed to equalize with a score from Babacar Diene. The Mount's response was immediate with a counterattack centered in. A scramble pitted the Rider keeper and a defender sprawled in front of Salazar and Kofi Amoah. The pass from Salazar landed in front of Amoah, who prompted a strike home for the lead.
 
The Broncs got several chances to knot the match, firing eight shots toward the net. Two of those attempts landed on target, but both were saved by Ethan Russell. The Mount's net minder had five rejections on the night.  
 
Competition resumes at home next Wednesday (Oct. 26) with a 5 p.m. kickoff versus Quinnipiac. The Bobcats stand in a three-way tie for third place – one point ahead of Mount St. Mary's – but face Saint Peter's before coming to Emmitsburg.