STEUBENVILLE, Ohio—With its first win streak since the 2010 season the Franciscan men's soccer team built off of their exciting first win three days earlier to secure a 2-0 win against Thiel College. This win is the first shutout for the team since the 2011 season.

The first goal came in the twelfth minute after junior Brian Bobak was fouled in the penalty box to stop a one-on-one chance with the Tomcat goalie. Franciscan's Joseph Duran then took the penalty kick but the ball bounced off Thiel's goalkeeper hands, off the left post and back into the field of play.

Junior team captain Jesse Saltarelli started to crash the net as soon as Duran took the shot and was there to pick up the loose ball and tap it into the back of the net to give Franciscan the lead.

"It feels very nice to have the second win of the season come this early in the year," head coach Ward Rogers said. "It's really indicative of us learning how to close out a game."

The team carried on their momentum by continuing to create good scoring chances but they weren't able to convert them into goals. With less than eight minutes left in the first half a 30-minute lightning delay was called causing both teams to clear the field.

"At that point we were taking control but weren't dominating," Rogers said of the delay. "It gave us a chance to catch our breath and talk about what we needed to work on."

Once the teams came back for the second half the energy level increased but the Barons were able to regroup and recreate their momentum from before the delay.

"It got disorganized at times but that's the kind of game we've really struggled with in the past," Rogers said. "Now we're learning how to get the game back under control and how to win it."

Toward the end of the game the tensions were running high as Thiel desperately fought to pull even and Franciscan looked for an insurance goal. Franciscan swept in to relieve that pressure in the eighty-seventh minute when Joseph Duran skillfully dribbled through Thiel's defense to set up a shot from Saltarelli.

Saltarelli rocketed the ball toward the goal but found the post instead of the net. Once again a Baron player was in the right place at the right time as standout sophomore John Imbimbo was there to touch it past Thiel's goalkeeper securing a 2-0 lead.

"It's going to become harder and harder to keep winning games and we have to realize that and continue to practice with that intensity," Rogers said. "Whatever it took us to get to this point it's going to take twice as much to get to the next point."

The defense worked hard throughout the game and held the team's one goal lead effectively until Imbimbo's goal gave them a safer lead. Goalkeeper Edward Huber made a number crucial saves and junior defender Peter Herrmann made exceptional plays protecting the goal.

"Peter always has a challenge playing in the back but he had a really good game keeping speed," Rogers said. "Positionally he is playing as well as anyone we've had playing that position."

Already having surpassed last year's win total Rogers said it is his team's depth and chemistry that have helped his program that the next step.

"This team is very deep so when we bring people off the bench the quality of play doesn't go down," Rogers said. "Every teammate is supporting their fellow teammates and we're very happy that we're able to do that as a team to ensure a cohesive effort."

The Baron soccer team will try and bring their win streak to three as they go on the road on Sept. 15 against Hiram at 1p.m.