MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College turned in a dominating performance to defeat No. 24 Heidelberg University by the score of 3-1 Saturday (Oct. 21) afternoon in Ohio Athletic Conference men's soccer action. The Pioneers improve to 10-4-2 overall and 4-2-1 in the OAC. Heidelberg slips to 10-3-1 on the season and 3-3-1 in conference play.
"This was an excellent game on both ends of the field. Heidelberg is very good and we had to respect their attack," Marietta head coach
Joe Bergin said. "We worked hard this week in training on defending them and I thought we executed our game plan. But once again, this result means very little if we don't keep our foot on the pedal. I am proud of the boys, especially my seniors on their special day."
Junior transfer
Tom Sloan (Stockport, England/Wilmslow) struck for two early goals to give Marietta the lead.
Cole Pappas (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) found Sloan open at the top of the box. Sloan placed the ball inside the right post for the first goal of the match in the 15th minute.
Sloan took advantage of a mistake by Heidelberg keeper Jake Kress four minutes later. Kress was caught out of the goal when Sloan recovered the ball and scored in the open net for his fifth goal of the season.
Heidelberg cut the Pioneer lead in half in the 26th minute. Alexis Mendoza scored an unassisted goal when he fired a shot into the upper right corner of the net.
Marietta got an insurance goal from
Andy Rolfes (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) in the 60th minute. Pappas sent a cross into the 18-yard box from the right side. Rolfes took the ball and fired a shot inside the far post for his fifth goal of the season.
The Pioneer defense clamped down on the Student Prince attack limiting Heidelberg to just one shot on goal in the second half.
Tyler Sholl (Johnstown, Ohio/Big Walnut) went the distance in goal for the Pioneers and notched two saves.
Kress played all 90 minutes in goal for Heidelberg. He finished with five saves.
Marietta outshot the Student Princes 15-9, including a 9-3 advantage in shots on goal. The Pioneers took six corners, while Heidelberg was awarded five corner kicks.
Marietta hosts Otterbein University, the OAC Regular Season champions, on Wednesday (Oct. 25) at 4 p.m.
Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all year long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
