MARIETTA, Ohio — Four different Pioneers scored goals as Marietta College defeated Muskingum University by the score of 4-0 Wednesday (Oct. 23) evening in Ohio Athletic Conference men's soccer action. Marietta improves to 5-9-1 overall and 2-3 in the OAC. The Muskies fall to 4-10-2 on the season and 0-6 in the OAC.
"We were clinical in the first half in every phase of the game. It was a dream start for the boys," Marietta head coach
Joe Bergin said. "The second half was about managing the game, and we were able to do that and rest some guys as a good BW team comes to town on Saturday."
Taj Haidar (Sylvania, Ohio/Sylvania Southview) tallied the game winner in the eleventh minute.
Gavin Heighberger (Lagrange, Ohio/Elyria) dribbled down the left side of the 18-yard box and passed the ball to Haidar at the left corner of the 6-yard box where he one-timed a shot inside the left post for the goal.
Lee Miller (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) made it 2-0 in the 20th minute. Miller dribbled into the box and was tripped up by a defender just as he got a shot off that slipped inside the far post for the goal.
Three minutes later Heighberger found the back of the net. Marietta centered the ball to Miller who back heeled the ball to Haidar at the top of the box. Haidar in turn one-time the ball to a streaking Heighberger on the left side of the six. Heighberger fired a shot inside the post for the goal.
Marietta's final goal came in the 39th minute.
Jacob Gangle (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay) crossed the ball into the six where
Zach Kern (Rocky River, Ohio/Rocky River) won the ball from a Muskie defender and easily put the ball past the Muskingum keeper.
While the Pioneer offense was firing on all cylinders, the defense was in lock down mode.
Ian Yarwood (Beloit, Ohio/West Branch),
Christopher Rodriguez (Northridge, Calif./Daniel Pearl Magnet) and
Sam Holthaus (Columbus, Ohio/University) anchored the back line with help from
Reggie Grayek (Shavertown, Pa./Wyoming Seminary College Prep.) and
Alec Ellis (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington).
When Muskingum did manage to get a shot off, keeper
Joey Backhaus (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) was there for the save. Backhaus notched his third shutout of the season and recorded four saves in the process.
Marietta hosts Baldwin Wallace University on Saturday (Oct. 26) at 5:30 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 X and Instagram.
