BRADFORD, Pa. – Anthony Crivelli (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) scored a hat trick – the first of his career and the first of the season for the Lions -- to lead the Penn State Behrend men's soccer team past Pitt-Bradford 4-1 on Wednesday afternoon.
The freshman's three goals boosted his season total to eight, tops on the team.
The Lions (12-4-1, 6-1 AMCC) opened the scoring at the 10:23 mark of the first half when Jimmy Belack (Upper St. Clair, PA/Upper St. Clair) scored following a pass from Eric Hackworth (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler). That pass followed a long out by Jarrod Wassell (Hollidaysburg, PA/Hollidaysburg), resulting in the first assist of the goalkeeper's career.
The Panthers (4-11, 1-6 AMCC) tied it midway through the first half when Brian Bao fired in a long shot from beyond the box.
Crivelli, however, would ensure that Behrend had the momentum going into the break. He scored unassisted with less than a minute left to play until halftime.
It remained a 2-1 contest until the 73:24 mark of the second half when Crivelli belted in a Garrett Fiscus (Russell, PA/Eisenhower) pass to give the Lions a two-goal edge. It was Fiscus' team-leading seventh assist of the season.
Crivelli capped the scoring less than three minutes later to make it 4-1.
Behrend dominated the pace of play throughout the contest, out-shooting the Panthers 28-4.
The Lions will travel to take on Penn State Altoona Saturday, October 26 at 1 p.m.