RICHMOND, Ind. — The Marietta College men's soccer team connected on two late-in-the-game goals and overtook Earlham College by the score of 3-2 Saturday (Sept. 18) afternoon.  The Pioneers improve to 2-2-3 overall, while the Quakers slip to 2-2-1 on the season.

"We really found ourselves up against it today," Marietta head coach Joe Bergin said. "Quick turnaround, lots of injuries, and playing in the heat against a very determined Earlham side. But we showed some grit and found a way to get it done."

Both teams got off to a slow start with only Marietta registering a shot in the first five minutes.  In the 8^thminute, Earlham's Braden Guinn broke away and found an opening, rocketing a shot into the goal and bringing the game's first score.

The Pioneers turned up the tempo and pressured Tyler Smith, the Quaker goalkeeper, with a flurry of shots over the next 20 minutes. Although none found the back of the net, the momentum was clearly on the Pioneer side.  After a hard foul, Jacob Roberto (Berea, Ohio/Berea-Midpark) was awarded a penalty kick and cashed in, tying the game at one in the 32^nd minute.  Both teams would enter intermission deadlocked at one.

After a similar start to the second half, Earlham took the lead on another Guinn goal in the 50^th minute.  The Pioneer were forced to play catch-up but started to pressure Smith again with a constant supply of shots.  The persistence paid off as Tyler Rosborough (McDonald, Pennsylvania/West Allegheny) sent a corner kick into the box and Taj Haider headed into the goal to tie the game in the 76^th minute.

When play resumed, Marietta went back to work keeping the ball on the Earlham side of the field.  After Gavin Long (Surrey, United Kingdom/John Fisher School) had a shot blocked, Rosborough took the rebound and sent it past the Earlham goalkeeper to give Marietta their first lead with four minutes remaining.  The Quakers could not mount a comeback and the Pioneers would go on to victory, 3-2.
 
"Coming from behind once is hard, but to do it twice is special," said Coach Bergin. "Once we tied it up the second time, we had the momentum on our side and got it done with Tyler's goal."

Marietta held Earlham to seven shots in the match, but five of those shots were on goal. Marietta took 27 total shots, including 14 on goal.

Freshman Jack Fowler (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville Central) got the start in goal for the Pioneers and went the distance, notching three saves. 
 
"Pretty emotional day as we lost a player just before half to a bad injury, but I could hear the team talking about doing it for him while we waited for the medical team to arrive. I know that deep down he was in their minds as we pushed on," concluded Coach Bergin
 
Marietta returns home to tangle with Kenyon College on Wednesday (Sept. 21) for a 7 p.m. match.

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.  
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