GA Men's Soccer Concludes Record-Breaking Season in PSUAC Finals

State College, Pa. - Through a hard-fought Penn State University Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Championship under the lights, Sunday evening, the Penn State Greater Allegheny men's soccer team saw the short-end of the stick in the 2-1 tilt under Penn State Beaver.

With just three total shots through the first half of action, both Beaver and Greater Allegheny ended the first 45 minutes with a zero-zero draw.

Just five minutes into the new half, Beaver's Julius Illiano captured a free-kick goal while everyone else was caught getting ready for it, putting Beaver up to a quick 1-0.

Both teams fought hard through the next thirty minutes. With just eleven minutes to go in regulation, GA sophomore midfielder Jake Thieret (Port Vue, Pa./South Allegheny) received a pass from freshman midfielder Belmo Nurkic (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin), who one-timed it past the goalkeeper to tie the game at one.

Just three minutes later, Beaver's Marcus Smith moved the ball to Anthony Voss, who cleaned up some confusion in front of the net and ripped a hard shot to the left post, 2-1 Beaver advantage.

Time was not on Greater Allegheny's side as the clock expired, elevating Penn State Beaver to their first ever PSUAC Men's Soccer Championship. 

Beaver outshot Greater Allegheny 9-5, while Beaver hashed in 11 cornerkicks to GAs zero.

Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Wood (Rockville, Md./St. John's College High) faced seven shots on target, putting a halt to five. Beaver goalkeeper Rashitha Perera saw three shots on goal, stopping two. 

Freshman midfielder Ricardo Dip (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Commonwealth) supplied two shots for the Lions while freshman defender Kyle Griffin (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin, junior midfielder Gerardo Diaz Perez (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico/Immaculate Conception Academy) and Thieret dispensed one each.

After Greater Allegheny's first ever final appearance, the men finish their season with an overall record of 9-6-1, 5-6-1 PSUAC.

The team wraps up the season with four PSUAC All-Conference selections in Dip, Wood, Diaz Perez and sophomore midfielder Marin Marina (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin).

Dip holds down a place in both the PSUAC and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association for his achievements on the field. He holds third place in the USCAA for both shots (53) and points (83) while tying for third for goals (21). Ricardo obtained second place thorugh the PSUAC for shots, goals, points and assists (11).

Sophomore midfielder Nick Andrews (Penn Hills, Pa./South Allegheny) is tied for third in the PSUAC for assists with seven as Wood holds a few PSUAC standings: second in save percentage (.800), third in saves (100), third in goals against average (1.55) and fifth in goals against (25).

To check out the USCAA leader board, click here. To view the entire PSUAC statistic board, click here.

Photos from the entire contest were shot by Jack Monick Photography. Click here to view!