Hazleton, PA. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Soccer Team (3-2-1, 2-1-1) tied with Penn State Hazleton (1-6-1, 0-2-1) on Sunday 3-3. PSUGA got three goals as the offense continued their success as of late, but Hazleton once again came back to get PSUGA evening things up late before securing the tie.
It was PSUGA who jumped out to the early lead in this one getting on the board with in the 25th minute when Raghu Chimoriya (Pittsburgh, PA./Ellis Prep Academy) scored on his third goal of the year thanks to a defensive breakdown that gave PSUGA a 1-0 lead. Hazleton would respond with a goal of their own from Sam Deptula that evened the score at 1-1.
PSUGA would get the last goal of the first half when Belmo Nurkic (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) scored on a free kick to send the team into the locker room leading 2-1. Despite the advantage on the scoreboard, Hazleton was outshooting PSUGA in the first half 11 to nine when the teams went into the locker room and that would come back to bite them in the second half.
Hazleton evened things up 13 minutes into the second half when Aaron Wrobleski scored on a pass from Deptula that evened things up at 2-2. PSUGA took back the lead just two minutes later when Nic Babic (Pittsburgh, PA.) scored his first goal of the day and his fifth goal of the season to take a 3-2 lead. However, Hazleton would force this game into overtime when Kyle Pacheco scored and evened things up at 3-3. Neither team was able to push across a goal in the two extra periods leading to the eventual tie.
Babic led his offense today with seven shots, three on goal, while Nurkic had five shots, two on goal in the effort. Goalkeeper Colin Bucsok (Pittsburgh, PA./Thomas Jefferson) will have to wait one more game to try and break the all-time wins record. He picked up 12 saves on 15 shots on goal in picking up the tie.
PSUGA has now faced the toughest tests they will face all season in Brandywine and Hazleton early on. Now, they will look to try and win the rest of their games as they make a push for their fifth consecutive Penn State University Athletic Conference Playoff berth.
The PSUGA Soccer team returns to action on Thursday when they travel to Youngwood, PA. to take on Westmoreland County Community College on Thursday at 4 p.m.
