Men’s Soccer Tops Thiel 4-1 in Home Opener
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona men's soccer team got its home schedule started with a win, as the Lions powered past non-conference opponent Thiel College 4-1 in their home opener on Saturday afternoon at Spring Run Stadium.
Luke Hall (State College, PA/State College) scored the first two goals of his collegiate career to lead the way for Penn State Altoona (2-1), and Luca Andreello (Orlando, FL/Dr. Phillips) also recorded his first college goal for the Lions.
Ethan Firth (York, PA/Central York) made his first collegiate start at goalkeeper for Penn State Altoona and made three saves to pick up the victory.
A miscue by Thiel (0-4-1) late in the first half helped Penn State Altoona get out to a 1-0 lead. Owen Myers (Spring Grove, PA/Spring Grove) placed the ball into the box from long range, and it was headed backwards by a visiting player to put the Lions on the board at 42:25.
Penn State Altoona doubled its lead in the opening minutes of the second half. Grady Ballard (State College, PA/State College) found Hall inside the box on a free kick from the right side of the field, and Hall headed the ball top shelf at 53:35 to make it 2-0.
Thiel cut into the Lions' advantage just over 10 minutes later. Jacob Sirofchuck centered the ball to Neko Hatton, whose shot from 20 yards found the top right corner of the goal to trim the Tomcats' deficit to 2-1 at the 64:53 mark.
But Penn State Altoona answered quickly to get the goal back and reestablish a two-score lead. Daniel Persiko (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) set up Hall with a pass to the top of the box, and Hall fired a shot into the bottom right corner of the goal to give the home team a 3-1 lead at 68:53. Persiko's assist represented his first collegiate point.
The Lions tacked one more goal on to their total in the 84th minute. The Thiel goalkeeper attempted to clear the ball from the box, but it came to Andreello, who sent a shot into the net from 12 yards out that increased Penn State Altoona's lead to 4-1 at 83:23.
The Lions finished the game with a 16-14 edge over Thiel in shot attempts, including holding a big 13-4 advantage in shots on goal. Penn State Altoona also led 9-6 in corner kicks.
Hall posted a game-high three shots on goal out of four total shot attempts. Ballard also attempted four shots, putting two on goal, and Alexander Rubio (Woodbridge, VA/St. John Paul the Great) and Myers recorded two shots on goal apiece.
Penn State Altoona men's soccer returns to action on Wednesday, September 14, when the Lions will travel to Latrobe to take on non-conference opponent Saint Vincent College at 4:00 p.m.
