HUNTINGDON, Pa. - The Juniata College men's soccer team used two first half goals to beat Penn State Altoona, 2-1, Thursday evening at Gibbel Stadium.

Matt Matylewicz (York, Pa./Central York) and Wyatt Page (King of Prussia, Pa./Shipley) each scored once. Dain Shirmer (Eliottsburg, Pa./West Perry)and Jacob Grove (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) provided one assist apiece.  

Neither team took a shot until the 24th minute, when PSU Altoona had a header blocked. Two minutes later, Joe Stipe (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) got to a loose ball outside the right side of the box, but his shot went left of the goal.

In the final 10 minutes of the half, the Juniata offense got going. Shirmer bent in a corner from the right side, Matylewicz rose above everyone in the box and powered the ball over the keeper into the net for a 1-0 lead. In the 39th minute, Grove found Page inside the box and Page finished inside the left post to double the Eagle lead heading into halftime.

10 minutes into the second half, Andrew Yeich (Middletown, Pa./Middletown Area) turned away two shots but could not stop the third as Jimmy Natale of PSU Altoona slotted home the rebound to narrow the gap to 2-1.

The Eagles' final opportunity came in the 83rd minute when Matt Hulsebosch (Lansing, N.Y./Lansing) played in a ball from the right wing that to Grove on the back post, but his first time volley went over the crossbar.

The Lions held a 10-7 edge in shots and a 8-3 edge on corners in the contest.

"I'm happy that we were able to get a win tonight. We had momentum building over the last week with a solid week of training and the results we have had recently," said head coach Dan Dubois after the match. "To get into the win column means alot heading into the Catholic match on Saturday."

Juniata will host Catholic, Saturday at 4:00.