Soccer Looking to Clinch Playoffs with a Win

Soccer Looking to Clinch Playoffs with a Win
September 29, 2017

McKeesport, Pa. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Soccer Team (5-1, 4-0) is looking to clinch their fourth straight trip to the Penn State University Athletic Conference Playoffs when they face off against Penn State Hazleton (5-4, 3-0) on Saturday at 2 p.m.

PSUGA won their fifth contest in a row on Thursday when they defeated Penn State New Kensington 2-0. Colin Bucsok (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) shined in net collecting a game high 10 saves in the contest including a sparkler when he jumped up to rob PSU-New Kensington of a goal that would have landed in the upper left-hand corner of the net.

All of the offense came in the second half of this game as the two teams were tied at zero until the 71st minute when Jake Theiret (Port Vue, Pa./South Allegheny) broke the tie with his third goal of the season to make it 1-0 in favor of PSUGA. Then, just four minutes later, PSUGA would get the cushion they needed as Marin Marina (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) notched his team leading eighth goal of the season, assisted by Colin Bucsok, to make it 2-0 PSUGA and lead them to their fifth straight victory.

The 5-1 start for PSUGA is their best start to a season since the 2015/16 season when they also went 5-1 through their first six games. That year, the Soccer team advanced to the PSUAC Championship Game where they fell to Penn State Beaver 2-1. The 4-0 start in conference play is the best start in program history.

Penn State Hazleton comes into this match-up coming off of a 5-0 win over Penn State Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. All of Hazleton’s offense came in the first half as they put the game away very early on. They got their first goal not even a minute into the ball game as Ben Pasukinis made it 1-0. They would add goals in the 2nd, 32nd, 41st, and 44th minute to run away with the contest.

Penn State Hazleton sits one game back of PSUGA for first place in the conference with PSUGA sitting at 4-0 and PSU-Hazleton sits at 3-0. With a win on Saturday, PSUGA would clinch their fourth straight trip to the PSUAC playoffs.

Penn State Hazleton leads the all-time series between these two teams with a record of 0-3-1 since the 2013/14 season. Hazleton won the last match-up between these two teams a season ago 6-0.

Kickoff for Saturday’s contest is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Francis McClure Elementary School Soccer field located at 500 Longvue Dr., White Oak, Pa. 15131. Come out and support the Soccer team as they look to clinch a playoff spot.