BRADFORD, PA – Following a lightning delay, the Juniata men's soccer team found their spark and took a 1-0 lead over the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in the 79th minute Wednesday afternoon.
Dani Meyer-Arrivillaga (Durham, NC / Carolina Friends) scored off an assist from Sheridan Doan (Baldwin, MD / Dulaney) to give the Eagles the go-ahead goal.
The delay seemed to be just what Juniata needed to refocus. After giving the team time to talk amongst themselves, head coach Dan Dubois reminded them during warm-ups that they needed to take charge of the field.
"They needed to go out and drive the pace of the game," Dubois said. "After the break they really started pushing and pressing out their opponent. We played a better game the last twenty minutes."
Juniata held a 16-7 advantage in total shots and an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal. The Eagles also had the edge on corner kicks with a 10-6 advantage.
Eagles goalkeepers James Johnson (Cumberland, MD / Fort Hill) and Achim Schwemmlein (NRW, Germany) split time in the goal and recorded a save a piece.
Jonah Ruggiero (Bangor, PA / Bangor) led Juniata with two shots on goal. Meyer-Arrivillaga and Dylan Thompson (Broomfield, CO / Peak to Peak Charter) each recorded three shots.
The Eagles return to Winton Hill for their first home game of the season Saturday Sept. 12 against King's College (PA).
"It's going to be great playing in front of the home fans," Dubois said. "The guys are looking forward to getting back to playing on familiar territory."
Juniata and the Monarchs kick off at 1:00PM Saturday.
