By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director
Mont Alto, Pa. – Marin Marina provided all of PSU Greater Allegheny's scoring on Saturday with the sophomore netting a hat-trick to lead the visitors to a 3-0 win over the home standing Penn State Mont Alto men's soccer team. For the first time in in program history, Mont Alto collaborated with the Antietam Humane Society (AHS) located in Waynesboro, Pa. and the women's basketball team collected donations during the match to raise support for the prevention of cruelty to animals and the promotion of humane treatment for all animals.
Penn State Greater Allegheny (1-1, 1-0 PSUAC) was on the attack for majority of the match out-shooting Mont Alto 20-8 and had an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks. However, Mont Alto goalkeeper Owen Gilbert (Wells Tannery, Pa. / Forbes Road) was outstanding all afternoon notching a career-high seven saves in the loss. Gilbert had a series of saves in the 7th minute that kept the visitors off the board. PSUGA finally tallied a goal at the 21:39 mark when Marin Marina converted on a penalty kick. Penn State Mont Alto had a glorious chance to tie it up, but a Nathan Wolesalgle (Duncannon, Pa. / Susquenita) penalty kick attempt was saved by the PSUGA goalkeeper.
The score remained 1-0 until the 71st minute when PSUGA settled within the attacking third of the field breaking down the Penn State Mont Alto (0-5, 0-1 PSUAC) defense and Marin Marina ripped a shot passed the sprawled out arms of Owen Gilbert (Wells Tannery, Pa. / Forbes Road). Greater Allegheny capped off the afternoon's scoring in the 89th minute when midfielder Jack Thiret found a streaking Marin Marina who punished the Lions for his hat-trick.
Freshman defender Wyatt Thorne (Spring Run, Pa. / Fannett Metal) led Mont Alto with three shot attempts. The Lions return to action on Tuesday, September 19 in a road contest with Williamson College of the Trades. The game is slated for 6:30 p.m. and is the first away game of the season for the PSUMA after five-straight home matches to begin the 2017 season.
