ALLIANCE, Ohio — Marietta College saw its men's soccer season to come an end in the first round of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Tuesday (Oct. 30) evening. No. 3 seed Mount Union downed the sixth-seeded Pioneers by the score of 2-1.
Marietta finishes the season with a 10-9 overall record. The Pioneers finished with a winning record for the third straight season. The first time Marietta has strung together three winning seasons in 34 years.
The Purple Raiders improve to 13-3-1 and will play No. 2 seed John Carroll in the semifinals on Thursday.
Mount Union got on the board first with an unassisted goal in the 20th minute. The Purple Raiders dropped a throw in into the six-yard box and Jon Schroeder won the scramble and placed the ball inside the left post for his fourth goal of the season.
The Purple Raiders extended their lead early in the second half. Schroeder sent a corner kick into the box from the left side where Joe Winiecki was waiting to head it home in the 55th minute. The goal was Winiecki's fourth of the season.
Sebastian Ziaja (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) came up from his central defender position to cut the Mount Union lead in half in the 73rd minute.
Cole Pappas (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) put the ball in play off a corner kick to the near post where Ziaja headed it into the back of the net for his first goal of the season.
Dakota Penquite (Blanchester, Ohio/Blanchester) went the distance in goal for the Pioneers recording four saves. Zach Zlas posted seven saves in goal for Mount Union.
For the match, Marietta outshot the Purple Raiders, 22-12, including and 8-6 edge in shots on goal. Mount Union took eight corners to six for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers say good bye to seven seniors on this year's team:
Anthony D'Egidio (Canton, Ohio/Dover),
Taylor Jennings (Arthurdale, W.Va./Preston),
Zach Johnson (Beckley, W.Va./Woodrow Wilson),
Noah Laliberty (Scott Depot, W.Va./Winfield),
Andy Rolfes (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton),
Ray Rott (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) and
Tom Sloan (Stockport, England/Wilmslow).
Fans can follow all of 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.
