MEADVILLE, Pa. — Allegheny College defeated Marietta College, 3-2, Saturday (Sept. 11) afternoon in men's soccer action. The Pioneers slip to 0-3-1 on the season, while Allegheny improves to 2-2-0 overall.
"Offensively I thought we were very good today. We knocked it around nicely and created opportunities," Marietta head coach
Joe Bergin said. "Unfortunately, our defensive set piece woes raised their ugly head and we doomed ourselves to another loss. We are very frustrated with our results but there is only one way out of this. That is hard work."
Allegheny's final two goals of the match came on set pieces. The game winner in the 76th minute was a direct kick taken by Henry Rosenberg and dropped into the middle of the 6-yard box where Ryan Hilty headed it home.
The Gators jumped out to an early lead less than four minutes into the match. Marietta failed to control a loose ball around midfield and William Lowthert sent a long through ball into the left side of the 18-yard box. Nicholas Talianai one timed it with the outside of his right foot redirecting the ball inside the far post for the goal.
Marietta responded 12 minutes later to level the match at one.
Gavin Long (Surrey, United Kingdom/John Fisher School) headed the ball of the cross bar and
Dave Beattie (Russell, Ohio/West Geauga) was there to head the rebound into the goal in for the Pioneers' first goal.
Allegheny retook the lead in the 28th minute when Alex Riel took a corner from the right side and bent the left footed shot in for the go-ahead goal. The Gators led 2-1 at halftime.
Reggie Grayek (Shavertown, Pa./Wyoming Seminary College Prep.) got the equalizer early in the second half.
Gavin Chappel (Oakdale, Pa./West Allegheny) took a direct kick from 25 yards out and found Grayek on the right side of the 6-yard box. Grayek headed the ball inside the far post making it 2-2.
The match stayed tied for 25 minutes until Hilty notched the game winner.
Jack Barron-Sluga got the win in goal for the Gators. He posted five saves in 90 minutes.
Joey Backhaus (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) recorded six saves in net for the Pioneers.
Marietta outshot the Gators, 20-13, for the match, while Allegheny had a 9-7 edge in shots on goal. The Pioneers took seven corners to six for Allegheny.
Marietta returns home to host Franciscan University on Wednesday (Sept. 15) at 7 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.
