MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College posted its second straight shutout of the season with a 2-0 victory over visiting Wittenberg University Sunday (Sept. 3) afternoon in men's soccer action. The win snapped a nine-match losing streak against the Tigers.
"This was another step along the journey we are undertaking," Marietta head coach
Joe Bergin said. "It wasn't a great first half but we started to turn the screws in the second half and we were rewarded with a couple of goals. We have lots to smooth out but I like our team."
Neither team found the back of the net in the first half. Marietta limited the Tigers to just one shot on goal in the first 45 minutes. The Pioneers were able to apply a little more pressure putting four balls on frame in the opening period.
Wittenberg nearly drew first blood a minute into the second half. Nick Foley took a shot from the top left corner of the 18-yard box. He tried to slip the ball past Marietta keeper
Dakota Penquite (Blanchester, Ohio/Blanchester) and inside the far post. The ball got by Penquite but he grabbed it off the line to prevent the goal.
Penquite, making his collegiate debut, played all 90 minutes and made three saves to preserve the clean sheet. The Pioneer defense has not allowed a goal this fall. Marietta's back line included
Brent Huck (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta),
Zach Johnson (Beckley, W.Va./Woodrow Wilson),
Noah Laliberty (Scott Depot, W.Va./Winfield) and
Sebastian Ziaja (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest).
Laliberty got the Pioneers on the board with a goal in the 61st minute. He took a pass from from Huck on the right wing and fired a shot from 35-yards out inside the far post for his first goal of the season.
Marietta made it 2-0 eight minutes later on a goal from
Tom Sloan (Stockport, England/Wilmslow).
Zach Johnson (Beckley, W.Va./Woodrow Wilson) slipped the ball to Sloan on the left side. Sloan dribbled into the 6-yard box and placed the ball inside the far post for the goal, his first of the season.
Jack Snider went the distance in goal for the Tigers. He made six saves.
Marietta outshot Wittenberg, 14-13, including an 8-3 edge in shots on goal. The Pioneers also held a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Marietta makes a two-match swing through Michigan next weekend. The Pioneers play at Olivet on Saturday (Sept. 9) at 2:30 p.m. and at Adrian on Sunday (Sept. 10) at 1 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.
