Men's Soccer Drops AMCC Championship in Penalties

CRESSON, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's soccer team fell to Mount Aloysius in penalty kicks in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championship game on Saturday afternoon.

The Mounties (12-6-2) edged the Lions (16-2-2) 4-3 in the penalty shootout to take the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The two teams battled to a 0-0 tie following regulation and two ten minute sudden death overtime periods.

In PKs, Anton Benedikt (Madison, NJ/Madison) stepped up first for Behrend and buried the first penalty. Will Cole (Russell, PA/Eisenhower) made a huge save on Mount Aloysius' first shooter to give the Lions a 1-0 lead after round one.

Evan Augustine (South Park, PA/South Park) and Christian Harrington (Warren, PA/Warren Area) made the next two penalties for Behrend while Cole got his hands on both Mountie attempts but both found their way in the back of the net. The Lions took a 3-2 lead after the first three rounds.

Mount Aloysius goalie Justin Hann made two critical saves to eventually give the Mounties a victory. Hann stopped Nick Stewart (Pittsburgh, PA/Keystone Oaks) and Mike Worthy (Pittsburgh, PA/Upper St. Clair) while the final two Mount shooters scored to lift them 4-3.

Both teams went back and forth in the first half, each having opportunities to score. The Mounties appeared to have scored on a free kick just over five minutes into the game, but it was called back. The free kick was indirect and the ball went in without being touched, resulting in the disallowed goal.

Behrend had three good chances in the first half. Matt Baleno (Pittsburgh, PA/Plum) Stewart and Benedikt each had a shot from just inside the 18 yard box, but put their shots just wide.

Stewart also had the best chance for the Lions midway through the second half. He picked up a loose ball and found his way through three defenders after a shot by Anthony Crivelli (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) was blocked in the box. Stewart rifled a shot to the lower left corner, but Hann made a diving save to keep the game scoreless.

Crivelli was searching for the back of the net himself during the second half. On three separate occasions, Crivelli beat Mount Aloysius defenders at the top of the box and took shots on goal, but was unable to find the netting.

Augustine, Harrington and Worthy were all named to the AMCC All-Tournament Team.