September 5, 2015

Grove City pulls away, downs Marietta

GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Three different players scored and the Grove City College men's soccer team produced its second shutout in three games as the Wolverines pulled away from Marietta for a 3-0 victory on Saturday evening at College Field.

Sophomore midfielder Blake Baer (Bedford, Pa./Bedford) scored what would prove to be the game-winner for the Wolverines (2-1) while senior forward Tim Shackleton (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) and freshman midfielder Jimmy Hueber (Philadelphia, Pa./Calvary Christian) both added second-half goals.

Grove City nearly jumped out to an early lead in the fourth minute when junior defender Frank Hueber (Philadelphia, Pa./Calvary Christian) took a free kick just outside the box, but his attempt drilled the crossbar before being cleared. The Wolverines would continue to press over the next several minutes but to no avail, and the Pioneers would answer with a strong 15-minute stretch that saw them post seven of the game's eight total shots.

The Wolverines would finally break through in the 40th minute when, after a free kick from just outside the box, junior David Wurmlinger (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) would serve a ball from the right side into the box. Freshman Jon Burton (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Christian) would collect the ball in a scrum in front of the net and deflect it over to Baer, who poked it inside the left postto give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead. The goal was Baer's first of the year while Burton registered his first collegiate assist.

Following the halftime break, Shackleton extended Grove City's lead to 2-0 by making a great individual move to beat his man inside the box and finishing inside the right post in the 64th minute for his first goal of the year.

Jimmy Hueber would seal the victory in the 76th minute, taking a pass in the right side of the box on a give-and-go from freshman Franklin Tropiano (Hillsdale, Mich./Hillsdale Academy) and finishing inside the left post to give the Wolverines a 3-0 lead. Hueber's goal was the first of his collegiate career while Tropiano notched his first assist as a Wolverine.

Senior Ben Weaver (York, Pa./Dallastown) made four saves in net to earn his second shutout of the season for the Wolverines. Grove City held a 21-13 advantage in total shots, including a 9-4 edge in shots on goal.

The Wolverines travel to Penn State Behrend on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. non-conference match.

Box Score

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