Marina Posts Three in 8-0 WCCC Shutout

McKeesport, Pa. - In the first regular season game of the 2016-17  school year, the Penn State Greater Allegheny men's soccer team stunned the Westmoreland College Wolfpack, Thursday afternoon, 8-0.

The scoring brigade began just ten minutes into the contest, when sophomore midfielder Belmo Nurkic (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) found junior forward Marin Marina (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) from the right side of the net, hammering a shot into the back of the net, 1-0 GA.

Just over two minutes later, freshman Ronnie Caldro dribbled the ball past the goaltenders hands, advancing the home team to two goals to none.

The game continued as freshman midfielder Niko Mallas (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) took the ball and megged the goalie, 3-0 Lions. 

Before the first half ended, freshman Aaron Aweke served the ball to Marina, who ripped a hard shot into the upper 90 of the goal, capping the half at 4-0.

The Lions came out of the gate hot as Caldro moved the ball down the Wolfpack half quickly, finding the feet of senior midfielder Gerardo Diaz-Perez (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico/Immaculate Conception Academy) hashing the back of the net, 5-0.

A few minutes later, sophomore midfielder Zebulon Hammond (Philadelphia, Pa./Maritime Academy Charter) found Marina for a hammer into the back of the net, through the goalies hands, capping off his third and final goal of the game, Greater Allegheny ahead 6-0.

The final two goals of the game came quickly, as freshman Nicholas Blawcutt and junior midfielder Jake Thieret (Port Vue, Pa./South Allegheny) both found the net, finishing the first game of the season at a 8-0 advantage over WCCC.

Both freshman Prakash Wagley and sophomore Mark Gobbie (Glassport, Pa./South Allegheny) guarded the net for the Lions, facing just one shot the entire game.

Marina took ten shots through the game, noting seven points on the day. Thieret took seven shots and sophomore midfielder Kyle Griffin (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) noted six.

As a team, Greater Allegheny shot 42 times, 30 of them being on target.

The Lions (1-0) will now embark upon their first Penn State University Athletic Conference weekend, as Saturday brings Penn State Hazleton and Sunday bring Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Kick-off for Saturday is 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, 12:00 p.m.