Marietta men earn dramatic first round win at Penn State-Altoona Challenge Cup
Nau's overtime goal gives the Pioneers a spot in Sunday's championship game

Sept. 15, 2007
ALTOONA, Pa. — The Marietta College men’s soccer team continued its early-season success with a 1-0 overtime win against Albright (Pa.) College in the first round of the Penn State-Altoona Challenge Cup. The win improves the Pioneers record to 4-1-1, while the Lions drop to 1-3-1.

The match saw chances from both sides in the first 90 minutes of play but neither team yielded a goal. It only took another two and half minutes for the Pioneers to finally break the barrier and secure their fourth win of the season. Senior midfielder Joel Nau (Marietta) finished the game with a left-footed volley just inside the box. Sophomore defender Delè Adedapo (Gahanna/Bexley) played a ball from half field that found the head of junior forward Brad Baweja (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood). Baweja flicked the ball behind him, which found Nau in the box.

Junior goalkeepers Tad Cochran (Westerville/Worthington Christian) and Kasey Gray (Marietta) combined for the shutout. Cochran faced no shots in the first half, while Gray finished with five saves, including two big one-on-one saves late in the second half.

The Pioneers finished with eight shots, three on goal. Albright was blanked with shots in the first half but managed eight second-half shots with five on goal.

Marietta will play in the championship game Sunday (Sept. 16) at 4 p.m. against the winner if the other first round game between PSU-Altoona and Thiel.