by McKenzie Quirin

WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona men's soccer team picked up its first win of the season on Saturday afternoon, holding off non-conference opponent Washington & Jefferson College by a score of 2-1 at Alexandre Stadium.

Luke Hall (State College, PA/State College) scored his first two goals of the season and led the Lions (1-1-1) with six shots. Luca Galieti (Broomall, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) and Jonathan Hill (Spring Grove, PA/Spring Grove) recorded assists on Hall's goals.

Jeff Stritzl (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) contributed two shots for the Lions, while Henry Couchara (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh) and Ethan McDowell (Johnstown, PA/Johnstown Christian School) added one shot apiece. 

Sasha Mohoruk (State College, PA/State College) started his third straight game for the Lions, only allowing one goal and making 11 saves to record his first victory as a member of the Penn State Altoona men's soccer program.

Penn State Altoona opened the scoring late in the first half following a W&J (1-3-1) turnover, and Hall kicked the ball past the Presidents' goalkeeper in the lower left corner at 30:48 to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. The Lions had some good chances to widen their lead toward the end of the first half, but the Presidents held them from doing any further damage through halftime.

In the second half, the Presidents played hard early, but the Lions ultimately scored once more to extend their lead to 2-0 when Hall scored his second goal of the game at 47:36.

The Presidents ended Penn State Altoona's shutout hopes on a goal at 75:40 by Ethan Bowser, but the Lions protected their lead over the remainder of the game to clinch their first victory of the season.

The Penn State Altoona men's soccer team is back in action at Spring Run Stadium on Saturday, September 23 at 4:15 p.m., when they take on Wells College, a first-year member of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, for their first conference game of the fall.