PSUGA Soccer Tries to Capture Playoff Spot vs. Beaver
The PSUGA soccer team plays their biggest match of the season when they take on PSU-Beaver Saturday at 4 p.m. A win or a Wilkes Barre loss on Friday clinches them a playoff spot.
McKeesport, PA. - The Penn State Greater Allegheny Soccer team (6-3-2, 3-2-2) takes on Penn State Beaver (-,-) on Saturday at 4 p.m. in their biggest match of the season. A win or a loss by Penn State Wilkes Barre on Friday would clinch them their fifth straight trip to the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs.
They are coming off of a win that saw their offense bust out for nine goals by seven different players in a 9-0 win over Westmoreland County CC. With some key players resting up, it was a chance for some of the reserves to show what they could do.
They responded with a big nine goal day, including a two goal effort from senior Nic Babic (Whitehall, PA./Baldwin HS). Junior Leela Nepal (Pittsburgh, PA./Baldwin HS) scored his first goal of his career and led the defensive effort in the win.
Belmo Nurkic (Pittsburgh, PA./Baldwin HS) made his first collegiate start in net and picked up his first career win and shut out. He made three saves on three shots on goal while playing 77:56 in net.
The win moves PSUGA to 6-3-2 overall and gives them momentum heading into their last two games as they fight for a playoff spot. They have to win one of their two remaining PSUAC games or get a Wilkes Barre loss to clinch their spot. The best they could finish is the #4 seed which would see them host a game in the PSUAC Quarterfinal round.
PSU-Beaver comes into this game off of a 3-0 win over Penn State York as part of a six game winning streak. Devin DiLuca, Williams Cruz, and Danylo Yakymov all scored goals in the Beaver win. Beaver currently holds the number four spot in the playoff race but a loss could drop them down a seed.
Beaver has caused PSUGA some problems over the last couple of seasons with PSUGA winning one of the previous seven matchup between the teams. Last season, Beaver just edged PSUGA with a 2-1 win. Nurkic scored the lone goal for PSUGA in the loss.
Kickoff for Saturday's game against PSU-Beaver is scheduled for 2 p.m. at New Brighton High School in Beaver County, PA.