Niemiec, Bobcats rally to beat Pitt-Bradford, 3-2
Box Score
GREENSBURG, Pa: The Pitt-Greensburg men's soccer team rallied behind two goals from junior captain
Jeremy Niemiec for a 3-2, come from behind victory of Pitt-Bradford Saturday afternoon.
A defensive miscue allowed Bradford to take an early lead on a goal from Samuel Franchi who put a close range shot past UPG keeper
Brandon Galley in the 8
th minute. The Bobcats bounced back and evened the score in the 16
th minute off a beautiful one timer from
Sean Baxendell. Teammate
Matt Papinchak dribbled to the far corner and sent a cross to the top right side of the box which Baxendell ripped near post to tie the game at 1-1.
Just before halftime, Bradford's Josiah Blick found the back of the net on a shot from the top of the box, giving UPB a 2-1 lead in the 42
nd minute. Bradford led 2-1 going into the break.
In the second half, the Bobcats kept the offensive pressure on the Panther defense. Some great passing from UPG culminated in a through ball for Niemiec , who was able to beat the keeper to tie the game at 2-2 in the 54
th minute.
Craig Macdonald and
Sean Baxendell assisted on the goal.
In the 62
nd minute, Niemiec would strike again, this time on a penalty kick, giving the Bobcats their first lead of the game at 3-2.
The defense would tighten up and UPG was able to hang on for a satisfying 3-2 victory. On the day, the Bobcats held the edge in shots, 27-17 and corner kicks, 10-4. Winning keeper Brandon Galley was only called upon to make just 2 saves in net.
The win moves UPG to 2-4 in the conference and keeps their AMCC playoff hopes alive, while Bradford falls to 1-5 in the AMCC. At 2-4 the Bobcats are currently in a three way tie with Mt. Aloysius and Franciscan for the 6
th and final playoff spot. UPG will get a chance to move ahead of Mt. Aloysius this Tuesday (Oct 23) when they take on the Mounties in Cresson, PA at 2pm.
