MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College men's soccer team came locked up a third-straight OAC Tournament berth with a 5-1 victory over visiting Mount Union College Wednesday (Oct. 28) afternoon at Marietta Field. [Box Score]

The Pioneers improved to 6-11-1 overall but more importantly 4-4 in the OAC. Marietta, who has now collected 12 points, secured one of the six spots in next week's OAC Tournament. The Pioneers can clinch fourth place and a first-round home game with a victory against visiting first-place Ohio Northern University on Saturday and can finish no worse than fifth place with a loss or a tie. The Purple Raiders fell to 8-9-1, 1-6-1 in league play.

Marietta began the scoring in the 11th minute. Senior forward Kyle Muth (Twinsburg, Twinsburg) sent a shot off the cross bar that fell to classmate Deric McDonald (Vienna, W.Va., Parkersburg). The forward then struck the ball past the keeper for his third goal of the season.

The Pioneers pushed their advantage to 2-0 in the 29th minute. Junior defender Ryan Wong (Granville, Granville) sent a ball from 35-yards out into the box that found its way past all of the defenders and into the back of the net. It was Wong's first career goal.

Marietta's lead grew to 3-0 in the 34th minute following a corner kick. McDonald made a short pass to sophomore defender Trenton Tunnell (Parkersburg, W.Va., South), who quickly sent a cross into the box. The pass was headed by Muth past the keeper for his fifth goal of the year.

A Mount Union foul in the box gave Marietta a penalty kick one-minute later. Freshman midfielder Andy Knauff (Valencia, Pa., Mars Area) converted the kick for his first career goal and extend the lead to 4-0 in the 35th minute.

The Purple Raiders got on the board in the 67th minute. Tommie McBride sent a through ball to TJ Welch who sent a blast past the keeper for his 8th goal of the season.

Marietta responded with its fifth goal of the game in the 74th minute. Wong launched a throw in all of the way into the box. The ball bounced over a defender and to the foot of sophomore midfielder Will Jaques (South Yarmouth, Mass., Chatham), who calmly sent a shot past the keeper for his first career goal.

Marietta sophomore Andrew Shannon (Cincinnati, Mariemont) picked up 5 saves with out allowing a goal in 65 minutes, while junior Kyle Maxwell (Chagrin Falls, Kenston) had 3 saves over the final 25 minutes. Jon Critell had 2 saves for Mount Union

Marietta closes out its OAC slate Saturday (Oct. 31) afternoon when Ohio Northern University visits Marietta Field for a key showdown on Senior Day. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.