Soccer Set to Take on WCCC in Non-Conference Action

Soccer Set to Take on WCCC in Non-Conference Action

McKeesport, PA. – After taking a tough loss to Penn State Wilkes Barre their last time out, the Penn State Greater Allegheny Soccer Team (5-3-2, 3-2-2) will look to get back on track when they battle Westmoreland County CC on Tuesday at 5 p.m. It will be the final non-conference game for PSUGA this season as they prepare to battle for a PSUAC Playoff spot.

Their fight for positioning got a little harder last time out when they fell to PSU-Wilkes Barre 3-1. Senior Belmo Nurkic (Pittsburgh, PA./Baldwin HS) scored the lone goal on the day for PSUGA via a penalty kick in the first half. After being down 2-1 at halftime, PSUGA could never find their groove and dropped the contest.

Goalkeeper Colin Bucsok (Pittsburgh, PA./Thomas Jefferson HS) suffered an injury at the end of the first half, forcing Nurkic to take over for the rest of the half. Bucsok returned in the second half and ended up making six saves in his 70 minutes in net picking up the loss. Nurkic served admirably in Bucsok’s absence in the first half allowing just one goal and making four saves in 20 minutes in net.

With the loss, PSUGA’s hopes of capturing the number one or two seed faded and the best they can finish is the number four seed. The PSUGA Soccer team can clinch a playoff spot either with a win in one of their last two Penn State University Athletic Conference games, a Penn State York loss, or a Penn State Wilkes Barre loss. With four teams battling for the last three PSUAC playoff spots, the last week of the season could see PSUGA go anywhere from the #4 seed to possibly being out of the playoff race by week’s end.

They get one more tune up against a Westmoreland County CC team that has yet to score a goal in the 2018-2019 season. They currently sit at 0-10 and are coming off of a 12-0 loss at the hands of Anne Arundel Community College. Goalkeeper Joshua Griffith made 24 saves on 36 shots on goal, but couldn’t get any support from his offense. Jasmyn Floyd led the team with three shots.

PSUGA defeated Westmoreland County CC earlier in the season with a 9-0 win on the road. PSUGA got two goal games from Yam Bista (Pittsburgh, PA./Baldwin HS) and Jagesh Subba (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) and seven different PSUGA players got involved in the scoring effort. PSUGA has had a lot of success against WCCC over the years with a record of 10-1 all-time against the Wolfpack.

Kick-off for Tuesday’s game is scheduled for 5 p.m. on the campus of Westmoreland County Community College.