BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Penn State Behrend men's soccer team knocked off D'Youville 4-0 on Wednesday night in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action.
The Lions (8-1, 2-0 AMCC) jumped out to a fast start with three goals in the opening half and cruised to their eighth consecutive victory.
Jake Gamble (Butler, PA/Butler) and Eric Hackworth (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) each scored a goal within the first ten minutes of the match. Peter Brower (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) dished the ball to Gamble who found the back of the net to give Behrend a 1-0 just 29 seconds after the start. Hackworth netted his second goal of the year in the ninth minute and suddenly the Lions were up 2-0 very quickly. Michael Liebdzinski (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin) earned the assist on the play.
Behrend was not done scoring in the first half though. Gamble scored his team-leading 10th goal in the 30th minute to add to the advantage, putting the Lions up, 3-0.
The defenses for both teams clamped down after the brief scoring frenzy. Neither team was able to put one on the board until Eric Vunovic (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin) scored at the 85:42 mark. Jimmy Belack (Upper St. Clair, PA/Upper St. Clair) earned the assist. Vunovic has now tallied at least one point in five straight games.
Four goals were plenty for the Lions defense to shut down the Spartans. Jarrod Wassell (Hollidaysburg, PA/Hollidaysburg) made two saves in net to keep D'Youville off the board. The shut-out victory was the second straight and fifth overall for Wassell.
Behrend will look to continue their best start in school history on Saturday at La Roche. Game time is set for 3 p.m.
