HUNTINGDON, PA – The Juniata men's soccer team (3-9-1) dominated the Penn College Wildcats and took a 3-0 victory Tuesday afternoon on Winton Hill.
The shutout victory is the third of the season for the Eagles.
Head coach Dan Dubois felt that the team's performance against the Wildcats was a reflection of how they've been conducting themselves at practice.
"We've changed up a couple things recently and with that comes some very specific training," Dubois said. "They've had to be there physically, mentally and emotionally every training session. Today we told them that they already put in the hard work and they had to just go out, have fun and enjoy it."
Juniata's first goal came from freshman midfielder Max Furman (Great Falls, VA / Langley).Reese Fisher (State College, PA / State College) sent the ball across the field to Furman who was waiting inside the box. Furman headed in the shot and the Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the 16thminute. The goal was Furman's first of his collegiate career.
The Eagles would hold on to a 1-0 lead to the half. Juniata held strong on every part of the field and controlled the pace of the game. They held a 14-3 advantage in total shots in the first half.
The second half would result in a similar fashion.
In the 58th minute, Dani Meyer-Arrivillaga (Durham, NC / Carolina Friends) had the ball inside the box and was under pressure from Wildcats defense. Meyer-Arrivillaga found an open Aaron Kulig (Green Lane, PA / Boyertown), who would sink the shot into the lower right corner of the net to put the Eagles up 2-0. Kulig finished the game with four shots, three on goal and one goal scored.
As the game was coming to a close, Meyer-Arrivillaga would earn a goal of his own off a rebounded save. Charlie Jones (Lebanon, PA / Cedar Crest) took the shot moments before that Wildcats keeper, Hunter Gosnell, saved but was unable to hold onto.
Meyer-Arrivillaga finished the game with eight total shots, seven on frame, one goal and one assist. Adam Heller (Rockville, MD / Colonel Zadak Magruder) took seven shots, five on goal.
Even the Eagles' defenders were able to find their way into the offensive attack. Dylan Thompson(Broomfield, CO / Peak to Peak Charter) finished with four shots, one on goal. Fisher got the assist on Furman's goal and took a shot on goal of his own.
Juniata finished the game with a 32-5 advantage in total shots and a 12-1 advantage in corner kicks. The Eagles kept Penn College's Gosnell under pressure the entire 90 minutes. Gosnell made 20 saves against Juniata.
Achim Schwemmlein (NRW, Germany) was between the posts for Juniata. Schwemmlein earned his third win of the season and recorded three saves.
Up next for the Eagles are the Mariners of Merchant Marine. USMMA is currently 2-2-1 in the Landmark Conference and 8-4-1 overall.
"It gives them a little bit of confidence," Dubois said in reference to the shutout victory. "They've been working hard the entire season. This time it had a positive result. That little bit of confidence is needed heading into this weekend."
The Eagles and Mariners kickoff at 12:00pm on Winton Hill.
