By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: Jennifer Jones
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata College men's soccer team won its third game in four days this afternoon, defeating Penn State Altoona 4-0 on Winton Hill Field. The Eagles are now 8-1-1 on the season and still undefeated at home, going into the opening weekend of Landmark Conference play this Saturday.
"We knew we were going to have to gut it out," said head coach Dan Dubois. "Playing three 90-minute games in four days, you know you're going to have to gut it out and the guys did. I commend their work ethic."
Penn State Altoona mounted pressure from the beginning, forcing Juniata goalkeeper Blaine Barsch (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek) to make four saves and earning a dangerous free kick in the first 20 minutes of play. But the Eagles were equal to the challenge and hit back in the 26th minute. Freshman Dani Meyer-Arrivillaga (Durham, N.C./Carolina Friends) slammed a shot off the right post and into the net for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.
"Our entire freshman class has a confidence about them, an air about them, that we've never really had before in a freshman class," said Dubois. "For Dani, he knows where to be. He understands the system we're trying to play. He understands where holes can open up for him and where he can be effective and take advantage. He's also one of the guys that's asking all the time, 'how do you think my play is? Where can I get better? Where do you think I can improve?' I think he takes a lot of what we say to heart."
Ten minutes later, Juniata struck again when sophomore Dylan Thompson (Broomfield, Colo./Peak to Peak Charter) bent a corner kick inside the near post for his first goal of the season. Despite giving up two goals, the Lions were able to fire off 10 shots in the first half alone, but Barsch made five saves and earned his second shutout of the season, the sixth for the team.
"We asked [the guys] at half time to think smarter, to play smarter, and they did," said Dubois. "In the first half it was our touch that was letting us down. We were playing a lot of small ball. We generally play bigger than that. We play the ball up to our strikers instead of playing three and four yard passes around the 18. That was giving Altoona a lot of opportunities. We were able to get the ball out of that area in the second half and move it a little bit better."
In the second half the Eagles controlled the game and limited the Lions to only five shots and none on goal. With just under 20 minutes left in the match, senior Austin Nace (Littlestown, Pa./Littlestown) collected a pass from classmate Andy Blunk (State College, Pa./State College) and lofted the ball just under the crossbar for his first tally of the year.
"We knew that we needed to move the ball better and play our style," said Dubois. "Us trying to play neutral across the field wasn't working. That's how they were getting their opportunities. We started playing the ball forward and were able to limit their opportunities and earn more opportunities for ourselves."
Juniata continued to pile on and in the 82nd minute, senior Dane Azeles (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg) scored his third goal of the season to put the Eagles up 4-0. Juniata outshot and out cornered the Lions in the match, 25-15 and 5-3 respectively.
"We have a very good veteran core that keeps everything calm and we have this group of freshman that, right now, are propelling us through the season," added Dubois. "It's going to be interesting to see once conference play starts how we react."
Juniata next plays at home this Saturday, Sept. 28th, at 3:30 p.m. in the second game of a double header with the women's team. Both programs will face the University of Scranton in the opening weekend of conference play.
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