STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – The Franciscan University men's soccer team ran away with a 4-0 win over Pitt.-Bradford, Saturday afternoon, to open Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference play for both teams.

The Barons (4-4-1, 1-0) scored early and often in the first half to take an early 3-0 lead after the opening 45 minutes. Sophomore Leo Herrmann took a beautiful through ball from Patrick Canavan and dribbled around a few defenders to create an open space between him and the Panther goalie before sending the ball into the back of the net for his first goal of the game to give FUS a 1-0 lead 9:19 into action. "Though statistically it's an unassisted goal, Pat Canavan really set Leo up for it with such a great ball," remarked head coach Ward Rogers. "We are really working on those balls in practice and penetrating the defense and we are starting to find them in games."

With Herrmann drawing more attention to him by the defense, other Baron forwards were able to step up and get good chances today. "Leo draws a lot of attention, always has two or three people staying close. We have been working on having guys like Jace (Vansteenburg) on the wing and draw the defense up to create some space to generate more scoring opportunites. We found Jace two or three times and Joe Francis and we need to work on finishing those chances."

The Barons executed that game plan with precision as they drew the Panther defense out wide and Vansteenburg dropped a quick pass into the box for a charging Jospeh Duran who headed the ball over the goalie for a 2-0 lead in favor of the Barons.

FUS scored its final goal of the first half as junior Cuyler Ledyard dropped a ball through the air to Herrmann who finished the play past a diving goalie with less than 17 minutes to play in the opening half.

"We are playing with a lot of confidence," remarked coach Rogers. "Its always important to get that first conference win and conference games are just a little tougher. To play with the confidence we did today is encouraging for the guys."

Part of that confidence is the ability for guys to come off the bench and maintain the high level of play set by the starters. "Tim McNamara came off the bench and played a great game in center back. I think it's a great testament to how these guys are playing in practice. Each practice is a competition for a starting spot in the next game. Everyone is working hard to earn playing time and challenge starting spots."

Herrmann topped off his third hat trick of the season with just 27 seconds left to play as he headed home a ball off a Duran corner kick.

The Barons out-shot the Pants, 21-7, which was well within the goals set fourth by Rogers and the coaching staff. "We give the guys targets to hit after looking at the winning team in the matches from previous years and what they had to do to win. We give ourselves the best statistical chance to win with these targets."

Sophomore Thomas Dosedel needed just one save in his second win of the season.

The Barons return to action as they travel to Mount Aloysius on Tuesday for a 2:00 pm game.