Greensburg, Pa.- The Juniata men's soccer team opened their 2024 campaign in dominant fashion as they won 5-0 at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Friday evening.
Jalen Holliday totaled two goals with an assist, while Shawn Tanaka, Gio Amesti and Jase Colino each netted their first career goal. Gavin Rauhut added two assists, while Jayden Gaynor had one. Maxwell Mattioni made one save in goal on his way to earning the win. Jackson Gamel took the final 16 minutes of the game in net.
Just over six minutes into the contest, Holliday beat two Panthers to a loose ball and broke down the left wing. He squared the ball to Tanaka in the middle of the box, who took a touch to create space before firing into the right corner of the net.
In the final minutes of the half, Gaynor was played in down the right wing before he crossed the ball to Amesti who volleyed the ball into the net from a close distance.
Juniata led 2-0 at the half.
Early in the second half, Rauhut got the ball near the left endline and played it across to Holliday who took a touch to control it before rifling the ball into the bottom right corner.
Three minutes later, Holliday ran onto a loose ball near the endline to left of the goal, and bent the ball past the keeper into the far corner.
For the final goal, in the 55th minute, Rauhut lobbed in a long throw from the left side of the field that bounced once before Colino nodded it past the keeper to complete the scoring.
The 5-0 win is the biggest ever in a season opener and the largest in any game since the 2022 win at Westminster (5-0, 9/3/2022).
Juniata returns to action tomorrow at Westminster at 1:00.
