LEWISBURG, Pa. — Milos Popovic and Michael Rojas scored two goals apiece in Salem University’s season-high eight-goal first quarter as the Tigers defeated Washington & Jefferson College, 21-8, to open the 2019 Bucknell University Invitational at Kinney Natatorium. Popovic, Rojas and Petar Leontijevic led the Tigers with four goals apiece, while Rojas also had five assists.
The win earned a split on the day for Salem as the team dropped an 11-8 decision to Fordham University. Salem held the Rams scoreless in the fourth period to slice a six-goal deficit in half.
Against Washington& Jefferson, Rojas put Salem on the scoreboard 37 seconds into the contest and assisted on a goal by Salvador Orozco 39 seconds later to give the Tigers a quick 2-0 lead. Rojas scored again with 5:27 left and Popovic sandwiched his two goals around a goal by Robert Juhas to extend the Tigers’ lead to 6-0 with 2:46 remaining. Adam Hudson and Leontijevic closed out the first quarter scoring.
Salem stretched the lead to 11-0 in the second period before the Presidents scored their inaugural goal of the contest with 4:21 left before halftime. Popovic and Saequon Miller scored for Salem and the Tigers went into the half leading 13-2.
A goal by Leontijevic with one second left in the third period gave Salem its biggest lead at 19-2. After a Washington and Jefferson goal, Popovic’s fourth goal of the game matched the Tigers’ biggest lead. Washington and Jefferson scored six of its eight goals in the final period.
Goalkeeper Julen Alonso recorded seven saves and a steal. The eight goals allowed were a season low for the Tigers.
Facing Fordham, first quarter goals by Orozco and Manuel Soto Estela pulled Salem within 3-2 after the Tigers spotted the Rams a three-goal lead. Fordham pulled away to take a 7-3 halftime lead and build an 11-5 advantage entering the final period.
Popovic scored a power play goal with 6:47 left in the contest. The Tigers were limited to one shot over the next three minutes until Rojas scored with 3:07 remaining to cut the margin to 11-7. Rojas closed out the scoring with a penalty shot with 32 seconds left.
Release courtesy Salem University Athletics Communications
