Men’s Soccer Nabs First AMCC Win at Hilbert
HAMBURG, N.Y. – Penn State Altoona men's soccer secured its first Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference victory of the season on Saturday afternoon, hanging on for a 3-2 road win at Hilbert College.
The Lions (3-5, 1-1 AMCC) produced a season-high three goals, as Grady Ballard (State College, PA/State College), Luke Hall (State College, PA/State College), and Chad Reighard (Altoona, PA/Altoona) each got on the board for Penn State Altoona.
Alexander Ferry (Warren, PA/Warren) recorded his second win of the season for Penn State Altoona at goalkeeper, making five saves to notch the victory.
Ballard tallied his first goal of the season at 34:23 to give Penn State Altoona a 1-0 lead. The Lions increased their advantage to 2-0 early in the second half, when Nathaniel McCourt (West Chester, PA/Salesianum School) set up Hall, who scored his third goal of the season at the 56:42 mark to give the visitors a two-goal lead. McCourt's assist represents his first collegiate point.
Hilbert got on the board shortly thereafter, as a Ryan Michelsen score at 59:44 narrowed the Hawks' deficit to 2-1.
Penn State Altoona got that goal back just under four minutes later, when Reighard scored his first of the year at 63:44 to boost the Lions' lead to 3-1.
Hilbert answered less than five minutes later, as Jason Vullo found the back of the net at 68:22 to make it a one-goal game again. But Penn State Altoona kept the Hawks off of the scoreboard the rest of the way, and the Lions escaped with their first conference win of the fall.
Penn State Altoona outshot Hilbert 18-12 in attempts and 10-7 in shots on goal. Corner kicks were tied 3-3 between the two teams.
Hall finished the day with a game-high five shots on goal. Ballard attempted three shots, while Reighard, Ethan Firth (York, PA/Central York), and Cameron McCarthy (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg) each attempted two shots.
Next up, the Lions continue AMCC play with another road game, as the team will make the short drive to Cresson to face Mount Aloysius College on Tuesday, October 11 at 7:00 p.m.