Lions Advance to Championship Game
ERIE, Pa. –The Penn State Behrend men’s soccer hosted its annual Herb Lauffer Memorial Tournament, facing Utica in the first round. The Lions held the lead the entire game and finished with a 2-1 victory in non-conference play Saturday afternoon.
The Lions (1-0-1) jumped on the Pioneers (0-1) early, using a counter attack to score in the 10th minute by forward Jake Gamble, who was assisted on an early played ball by Joshua Teti. Later in the first half, a through ball by midfielder Aaron Meehl was capitalized by a sliding kick from Gamble to give him his second goal of the night to put Behrend ahead, 2-0.
Held scoreless for most of the game, the Pioneers (0-1) were given life from a Behrend foul deep in their own box. A direct kick put in play by Shane Wittemann gave forward Robert Sgueglia an opening to nail a header past the Lion’s defense to give Utica their first goal of the night.
In need of opportunities to get back in the game, the Pioneers outshot Behrend 18-10 overall and 10-7 in the second half. Goalie Chris Bolea had another terrific game for the Lions recording six saves, making a stop on a penalty kick and the ensuing rebounded shot by Utica’s Trevor Hoxsie in the first half.
Behrend returns to the field Sunday, taking on Baldwin-Wallace in the championship game at 4 p.m.
