WASHINGTON, Pa. — Marietta College turned in its second dominating performance of the week as the Pioneers easily dispatched Washington and Jefferson College by the score of 4-0 Saturday (Sept. 22) afternoon in men's soccer action. Marietta improves to 5-3 on the season, while the Presidents fall to 2-4-1 overall.
Marietta led 1-0 before the fans could even settle into their seats for the match. It took the Pioneers just 31 seconds to find the back of the net.
Andy Rolfes (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) found
Tom Sloan (Stockport, England/Wilmslow) open in the center of the box and Sloan finished it off for his third goal of the season.
"This was our most complete performance to date. We came out with high energy and we were able to get that first goal early," Marietta head coach
Joe Bergin said. "After W&J dug in and kept us at bay for the rest of the first half, our performance in the second half was excellent. Three goals in just over six minutes put the game away. We are playing with some confidence but we know there is more work to be done."
Despite controlling the ball for most of the half, Marietta had to settle for the one goal lead at halftime as the Washington and Jefferson defense kept the Presidents in the match. W&J keeper Nick Stasko recorded three saves in the first 45 minutes and finished with five on the day before being replaced late in the match.
The Pioneers went back on the attack in the second half and finally got back on the board in the 54th minute.
Blake Holtman (Milford, Ohio/) notched his first career goal with an assist from
Gavin Long (Surrey, United Kingdom/). Long sent the ball into the box where Holtman slipped the ball inside the right post for a 2-0 MC lead.
Holtman's goal opened the flood gates for Marietta. 83 seconds later
Noah Laliberty (Scott Depot, W.Va./Winfield) sent a long pass to a streaking
Luke Maher (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) who tucked the ball under the crossbar for his second goal of the year.
Robert Phillips (Elkins, W.Va./Aquinas Academy (Pa.)) made it 4-0 with a goal in the 60th minute.
Evan Taylor (Bay Village, Ohio/) crossed the ball into the box where Phillips was waiting to head it home for his third score of the season.
While the Pioneer offense was firing on all cylinders, Marietta's defense was in lockdown mode.
Dakota Penquite (Blanchester, Ohio/Blanchester) posted four saves in goal and turned away a W&J penalty kick in the second half. The shutout was Penquite's first of the season.
Marietta's back line featured Laliberty,
Sebastian Ziaja (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest),
Zach Johnson (Beckley, W.Va./Woodrow Wilson) and
Colston Roades (Mount Orab, Ohio/).
For the match, Marietta outshot the Presidents, 24-11, including a 10-4 edge in shots on goal. Both teams took three corner kicks.
Marietta returns home to host Hiram College under the lights at Marietta Field on Tuesday (Sept. 25). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
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.
