McKeesport, Pa. - Behind sophomore goalkeeper Alex Wood (Rockville, Md./St. John's College High), the Penn State Greater Allegheny men's soccer team put up their first win of the 2015-16 academic year, Friday afternoon, in a 3-0 shutout over Southern State Community College.
The game began with Greater Allegheny hammering the net, placing four shots before the 20 minute mark. Sophomore midfielder Bimal Bhattarai (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) connected a beautiful cross toward the back post, where junior midfielder Gerardo Diaz Perez (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico/Immaculate Conception Academy) was conveniently there waiting to hammer a volley in the back of the net, notching his first and Greater Allegheny's first goal of the season, 1-0 GA.
The first half ended by a shot tally 15-1 in Greater Allegheny's favor as they led the visiting team by one.
Just nine minutes into the second half of action, freshman midfielder Ricardo Dip (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Commonwealth) blasted a hard shot to the lower right of the net after a foul, elevating his team to a 2-0 lead over SSCC.
GA managed their last goal of the game in the 75th minute, as Dip again nailed a hard shot just left of the goalie's hands, placing the game at a 3-0 blanking in the first contest of the year.
As a team, Greater Allegheny managed 40 shots through the ninety minutes, 18 being on goal, allowing SSCC a total of just three. GA had the advantage on corner kicks with 11 while SSCC's keeper managed 15 saves.
Dip and sophomore midfielder Marin Marina (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) teamed up for a combined 15 shots, eight being on target. Wood finished his first game in net of the season with three total saves.
Greater Allegheny (1-0) are set to host Westmoreland County Community College to Francis McClure Intermediate School in White Oak, in a double-header with the women's team. The women are scheduled first for a 3 p.m. start as the men follow them in an estimated 5 p.m. start.