Franciscan 3, Penn St. Behrend 1

Starting XI
Zachary Muldoon, Kolbe Rice, Joseph St. George, Augustine Rubino, Anthony Venditti, Jonathan Schriner, Julien Freeman, Joshua Atkinson, Lucas Cross, Ryan Miller, & Goalkeeper - Aiden Miller 

How It Happened 
    Coming into today's game both the Barons and the Lions were finishing a brutal non-conference schedule. The Barons went through that stretch only suffering one loss against a top three OAC school. Behrend was 1-4-1. This match up has become an exciting one to watch. Every time these two play each other it is highly-contested, physical, with slim margins for error. With the opening kickoff there seemed to be tension and hesitancy from either side. Neither side really pressed into the attacking end. Instead, each team opted to stay back, play the long ball, and avoid any early overextension mistakes. Right about the time that thought came into my mind the pace of play flipped a switch and forwards took deep runs and midfielders started getting overly-physical for ball possession. The five minutes of gentlemen's ball was over and it was about to become an 85 minute dog fight. 
    Behrend looked much quicker and swarmed the ball early in the half. In the 5', forward Nickles made a run and he took a touch just a few feet in front of our goalkeeper Miller. Miller deflected his shot back, but took a hit and fell to the ground with Nickles. The Barons have a very high win percentage when they score the first goal and it felt like the worst was about to happen. Nickles shot rebound back, but landed with another Behrend forward. They took another shot at a seemingly empty net. Miller, on the ground entangled with Behrend's Nickles, lifted himself up as high as he could and stuck out his hand. The sideline erupted when his outstretched mitt connected squarely with the ball saving the goal. 
    Conditioning and discipline were a difference in the game. After those eventful opening minutes, Behrend continued to smother the Barons defense. They had back-to-back-to-back-to-back corner kick attempts, fired five more shots Miller's way, and opened up the scoring with a goal in the 19'. However, as time droned forward and the day got hotter, the Lions lost that step. The Barons got out of their own and the Lions began to play from behind and resorted to using their hands and arms to try and makeup for their bad positioning. In the 25', Auggie Rubino was run over from behind. He was just inside the top of the goalie box, so the Barons had a PK attempt. Ryan Miller took the kick and drilled it top-right while the Lion goalie dove left. The Baron midfielders continued to possess the ball well and as the Lions got more and more tired they resorted to more and more fouling. The remainder of the 1st half the Barons were under no real threat of giving up a goal.
    The second half was a similar story to the first half. The Lions came out and flew around the field winning every 50-50 ball, but this time their legs wore out much sooner. They fell back into their fouling ways and the Barons capitalized adding two more goals. Schriner scored the game-winner in the 69'. On a quick counter attack Cross fired a shot that rebounded off the goalkeeper to Schriner deep on the right side. Schriner placed the ball top left going right passed the goalkeeper's face to put the Barons up 2-1. Freeman added one goal for good measure late in the 88'. He made a run and found himself in a 1v 2 situation. He made a stutter step then flew right passed the lone defender, then beat the goalkeeper for the third and final goal. 
    In the post-game interview, Coach Ridenour was impressed with his midfielders giving them significant credit for the team's success. He also reminded everyone that they will have to move on from this victory as PAC play begins, "each team is going to bring it every day in the PAC, so if you're not on top of your game you're going to lose". There are some big hitters in the PAC and the Barons need to stay locked in every night. 

Inside the Numbers  
-Cross let other people score goals today getting the lone assist for the game
-Schriner's goal is his 5th of the year
-Freemans' goal is his first of the season
-A. Miller recorded 4 saves
-R. Miller's PK goal is his third of the year bringing him to 9 on his career. Five away from his brother's record.

Who's Next?
Franciscan will enter PAC play on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. when Saint Vincent makes the trip to Steubenville. Franciscan is looking to knot up the all-time series at five wins apiece with a win this season. The Barons have had the advantage as of late, as they have beat the Bearcats in each of their last three meetings. Last season in Latrobe, Ryan Miller scored a goal early on in the second half, and that would be enough, as his brother, Aiden Miller, recorded and eight save shutout. 

Men's Soccer Fall ID Camp
Franciscan Men's Soccer is excited to offer an ID camp for aspiring college athletes on Sunday, November 17th. The camp is open to athletes entering 9th-12th grade this Fall. Participants will have the opportunity to receive training from the men's soccer coaching staff as well as interact with current players. Campers will participate in a typical Franciscan training session and gain an understanding of the competitive and challenging environment of collegiate athletics. For more information and to register click here

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