McKeesport, Pa. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Soccer Team (3-2-1, 2-1-1) is looking to get back in the win column when they take on Westmoreland County Community College (0-5, 0-0) on Thursday at 4 p.m. After tying Penn State Hazleton 3-3 last time out, PSUGA is looking to return to the win column before they move back into Penn State University Athletic Conference play on Sunday.
It was a trio of seniors that provided the offense for PSUGA in the tie with Belmo Nurkic (Pittsburgh, PA./Baldwin HS), Raghu Chimoriya (Pittsburgh, PA./Ellis Prep Academy), and Nic Babic (White Hall, PA./Baldwin HS) each providing a goal. Babic led the team with seven shots, three on goal, while Nurkic finished right behind him with five shots, two on goal.
Sophomore Goalkeeper Colin Bucsok (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) had a solid game in net making 12 saves on 15 shots on goal while playing all 110 minutes in net. He is still looking for that elusive 13th career win that would make him the all-time winningest goalie in PSUGA history, but a win on Thursday would secure him that title and put PSUGA back on track.
PSUGA has had to face their toughest PSUAC competition over the last two games in Penn State Brandywine and Penn State Hazleton. With those two tough games in their rearview mirror, head coach Dale Odim and his team are looking towards the PSUAC playoff push for the fifth consecutive season.
They currently sit in fourth place in the PSUAC standings with a record of 2-1-1 in conference play. The top six teams in the conference make the tournament and for PSUGA, they are pushing for the #1 or #2 seed to get a bye in the first round before making a run at the PSUAC Championship game.
WCCC enters Thursday’s game looking for their first goal of the season. Through their first five games, they have been shutout by a combined score of 60-0. Their last time out against Mercyhurst East, they allowed the fewest goals they have allowed in a game this season when they got shutout 9-0. Goalkeeper Joshua Griffith got a workout in net facing 45 shots on goal and saving 36 of them.
PSUGA has had a lot of success over the years against WCCC with a combined record of 9-1 all-time. Last season, PSUGA scored two shutout wins over the Wolfpack by scores of 4-0 and 10-0 as part of their 9-4 season. The 10-0 game stood as the most points every put up by the PSUGA Men’s Soccer program before the 15-1 win over Southern State CC earlier this season.
Kick-off for Thursday’s game is scheduled for 4 p.m. at WCCC. PSUGA will then return home on Sunday for their senior day when they face PSU-Lehigh Valley at 2 p.m.