Whittaker's Goal, Wicher's Stop Help Express Men's Soccer Team Upend Lake Michigan 4-2 In Season Opener

Benton Harbor, MI---It was a wild second half, but the Express men's soccer team found a way to defeat Lake Michigan College 4-2 today behind the heroics of two freshmen - Jahmall Whittaker and Ryan Wicher.

The Express had taken a 2-0 lead at the break thanks to a pair of goals fromBjion Campbell and Jacob Martin in the half's final 10 minutes. Martin assisted on Whittaker's goal, a loft over the charging goalkeeper's head, with 9:25 left in the half before Martin nailed his into the top right corner of the net with 4:11 left on an assist from Troy Watson.

Following that, Lake Michigan's Tyler LaLonde produced two goals for his team with 32:07 and 11:47 left in regulation to tie it up.

Whittaker responded after receiving a pass from Vijay Gentles and depositing it into the net to give the Express the 3-2 lead with 5:28 left.

Gentles was then called for a hand ball in the box with just under one and a half minutes left. That's when Wicher dove to his right and stopped what would have been the game tying penalty kick goal.

Moments later, Gentles answered his mistake with a goal on a cross from Whittaker with 59 seconds left to give the Express a 4-2 lead.

Wicher played the entire game in goal for the Express, while Danny Martinez went the distance for Lake Michigan. Wicher made two saves, while Martinez made 11 saves. 

Notes

Today's game marked the very first one for the men's soccer program at Lake Michigan, who also saw the beginning of their women's program today with a 5-0 loss to the Express women's team.

Today was the season opener for the Express.

Martin finished with one goal and one assist, Watson finished with one assist, Gentles had one goal and one assist, Campbell had one goal and Whittaker had one goal and one assist for the Express.

The Express men will take on Muskegon Community College tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Muskegon, Mich.