Eagles Go for Three in Second Half to Complete Comeback, Move to 3-0

Juniata men's soccer player Nick Sinapius
Nick Sinapius tallied his first career goal and also the game-winning goal as JC completed the comeback against the Bearcats.

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata men's soccer team delivered another win in thrilling fashion, erasing a 2-0 deficit to defeat visiting Saint Vincent 3-2 on a muggy Tuesday evening at Gibbel Stadium. 

Wyatt Page (King of Prussia, Pa./Shipley) had a goal and two assists while Michael Realbuto (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) and Nick Sinapius (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville) tallied a goal apiece. Johnny King (York Springs, Pa./Bermudian Springs) added one assist. Sinapius's game-winner was also his first colligate goal. 

The first half saw both teams take a few shots early, with Realbuto and Page forcing the Bearcat keeper into making a save within the first 12 minutes. 

Six minutes later, Saint Vincent broke through and scored. The teams went back and forth in the midfield, with the lone shot a Sinapius header that went. Three minutes later, the Bearcats found the back of the Eagle net again as Juniata went into the half down 2-0.

Juniata came flying out to start the second half, getting three shots off in the first 10 minutes as they dominated the run of play. Their perseverance paid off as King passed the ball down the right side to Page who hit the ball first time through the box to a wide open Realbuto who fired it home to bring the Eagles within one.

Juniata could smell blood and four minutes later, a loose ball bounced to Page at the top of the box. He took one touch before he blasted it off the crossbar and in to tie things at two.  

The Eagles continued to control the game as they looked for a winner. They totaled four shots over the next 20 minutes, three of them off frame and Bass Diakhoumpa's (Dakar, Senegal/Mercersburg Academy) was denied by the Saint Vincent keeper.

In the 74th minute, Page found Sinapius at the top of the box. He turned and ripped a shot into the bottom left corner of the net to give the Eagles their first lead. 

"It was a new challenge, as we hadn't started a game poorly yet this season," said head men's soccer coach Dan DuBois." The team we played against tonight work hard and punished us. We managed to get ourselves together and find a sense of pride and desire to get something out of the match. It was good to see." 

Juniata held on the rest of the way to move to 3-0 on the year. The Eagles travel to play King's, Saturday at 1:00.