October 27, 2007
Grove City caps season with win
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Freshman forward Jake Kern (Fairfield, Pa./Fairfield) recorded his first collegiate hat trick Saturday afternoon, helping the Grove City College men's soccer team earn a 4-2 victory over host Thiel in a Presidents' Athletic Conference match at Alumni Stadium. It is Grove City's second straight victory. The Wolverines conclude the season with a 6-8-4 overall record and a 2-3-1 mark in PAC play.
Kern gave Grove City a 1-0 lead at the 9:13 mark with his fourth goal of the season. Junior Paul Cardinal (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Bible Baptist) assisted Kern.
The Wolverines doubled their lead at 17:58 as senior midfielder Chad Ashby (High Point, N.C./Wesleyan Academy) scored his third goal of the season. Kern tallied the assist. Kern then picked up his second goal of the afternoon less than two minutes later as he scored at the 19:33 mark. Senior Barry Snyder (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg) assisted on the goal, which turned out to be the eventual game-winner.
Thiel (2-14-1, 1-5) cut the lead to 3-1 in the 29th minute on a goal from Chad Swisher. Grove City countered in the second half, though, as Kern scored his third goal of the afternoon at 48:57. Junior Matt Sol (Crofton, Md./South River) supplied the assist.
Thiel closed the scoring at 81:24 as Nathan Knox scored for the Tomcats.
Grove City out-shot Thiel, 16-7. The Wolverines also owned a 7-2 edge in corner kicks. Senior goalkeeper Michael Manahan (State College, Pa./State College) earned the win in goal, allowing one goal in 68 minutes of action. He stopped two shots. Sophomore Tim Lansing (Albany, N.Y./Loudonville Christian) made one save in the final 22 minutes.
Grove City will graduate Ashby, Manahan, Snyder, midfielder Tommy Bresson (Portsmouth, N.H./Portsmouth Christian), forward Eli Lamborn (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg) and back Dustin Heath (China, Maine/Erskine Academy).