Greater Allegheny's Men's Soccer Falls Short in First Conference Match-Up

McKeesport, Pa. - The Penn State Greater Allegheny's men's soccer team hosted their first PSUAC conference match-up Saturday afternoon, where they fell narrowly to Penn State Hazleton, 7-5.

Hazleton was the first to answer as they scored their first within eight minutes of play. At the 15 minute mark, freshman forward Manoj Sharma (India/Baldwin) found himself in a showdown with the goalie. Sharma prevailed as he tucked one by the goalie in the bottom left of the net.

Within the next fourteen minutes of play, GA got peppered as Hazleton was able to net five goals, taking the score to 6-1. Near the end of the half, Sharma went up against a defenseman and won possession of the ball. He dribbled it past the last defender and netted another 6-2. Fouling in the box contributed to the last goal tallied by Hazleton to end the half.

GA was the only team on the board the second half. Sharma went on to tally his third goal of the game when he received a diagonal pass from freshman midfield Gerardo Diaz (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico/I.C. Academy), beating the goalie down low. Less than thirty seconds later, Gerardo took a penalty kick in the box, 7-4. Sharma went on to notch his fourth of the day as he ripped a hard shot in the upper 90 of the net. Though GA worked hard in the second half, the first half damage was too much to overcome, falling 7-5.

Freshman goaltender Michael Anderson (Herminie, Pa./Yough) did not allow a goal in the second half. He faced eighteen shots on goal, saving eleven. Sharma scored four goals out of the six he put on goal. Diaz earned a goal and two assists to complete the day.

Penn State Greater Allegheny is up for another conference match today as they host Penn State Schuylkill for a 1 p.m. start.