VTSU RANDOLPH MEN’S SOCCER FALLS 2–1 ON THE ROAD AT PAUL SMITH’S

VTSU RANDOLPH MEN’S SOCCER FALLS 2–1 ON THE ROAD AT PAUL SMITH’S
September 17, 2025
Randolph, VT: The Vermont State University Randolph men's soccer team fought valiantly under the lights on Wednesday evening, but despite their energy and resilience the Knights fell 2–1 to Paul Smith's College in a spirited road contest.
 
The opening stages of the match belonged to the Bobcats, who attacked with pace and precision. Their breakthrough came just 12 minutes into the game when midfielder Hyler Isham finished off a clever setup from Maddox Johnson, igniting the home crowd. Barely ten minutes later, Nathan Wiley added a second goal, slipping through the Knights' back line and burying his chance to make it 2–0.
 
The Knights refused to fold. In the 34th minute, first-year Henry Gibson provided the answer, breaking free on the edge of the box and striking cleanly into the net. His goal cut the deficit in half and gave Randolph momentum heading into halftime.
 
The second half became a test of endurance and resolve. Paul Smith's piled on the pressure, finishing with 30 total shots and 17 on target. Yet goalkeeper Gabe Sokolnicki turned in a standout performance, recording 13 saves and keeping Randolph within reach. His presence in goal was the anchor of the Knights' defensive effort.
 
On the attacking side, Gibson continued to push forward with four shots, while Angel Baharona and Paul Persson also tested the Bobcats' keeper. The Knights pressed late for an equalizer, but Paul Smith's held firm and closed out the match.
 
The stat sheet highlighted the intensity of the contest. Paul Smith's held the edge in shots and corners, while Randolph made the most of its opportunities and fought for every possession. Fouls also shaped the game's physical tone, with 24 called in total and a late yellow card shown to defender Myles Uhalde.
 
With the result, VTSU Randolph moves to 1-5-0 overall and 0-1-0 in conference play, while Paul Smith's improves to 4-5-0 and 2-0-0 in league action.
 
The Knights will look to bounce back quickly when they return home on Saturday to host Southern Maine Community College at 1 p.m. on the Randolph campus.