ERIE, Pa. – Having established a history of success, the Penn State Behrend men's soccer team is searching for their third Allehgeny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) tournament title in the last four years. The Lions took the 2011 and 2013 crowns, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in those years.
The 2014 regular season has been nothing short of spectacular for Behrend. The Lions ended the season on an 11-game winning streak and went unbeaten in conference play. Behrend recorded their highest win total in program history in the regular season and needs only two wins to tie the record for most wins. In nine conference games, Behrend held seven of the opponents scoreless and averaged over four goals per game.
The Lions are led offensively by senior forward Jimmy Belack (Upper St. Clair, PA/Upper St. Clair) and sophomore forward Anthony Crivelli (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley). Belack is having a season for the record books, leading the conference with 44 points and 17 goals. He has already broken the career assists mark this season and is tied for the second best single-season goal output. He ranks second nationally with seven game-winning goals and ranks eight in total points.
Crivelli stands fourth in the AMCC in both points (32) and goals (13). He has also added six assists which is second on the team behind Belack's ten.
Defensively, the Lions have been stout all year. They have blanked 12 opponents this season, and nine of the last 11. Behrend is led on defense by Mike Worthy (Pittsburgh, PA/Upper St. Clair), Evan Augustine (Pittsburgh, PA/South Park), Kevin Vock (Bridgeville, PA/South Fayette) and goalkeeper Jarrod Wassell (Hollidaysburg, PA/Hollidaysburg). This unit has suffocated opponents all season allowing just 13 goals in 19 games.
Wassell is having a brilliant season in the net posting a 14-3 record and 0.62 goals against average. He has shutout opponents eight times and has not allowed a goal since September 19th.
As the regular-season conference champion, the Lions have clinched home field advantage throughout the tournament. This season, Behrend is 9-1 at home with their only loss coming August 30th in the championship of the Herb Lauffer Memorial Tournament.
Behrend will face Mt. Aloysius November 5th at 2 p.m at the soccer field on the campus of Penn State Behrend.
