W&J Evens Season Record After 4-0 Win At Thiel
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Sophomore defender Nicholas Vecchio's (Pittsburgh, Pa./South Park) first collegiate men's soccer goal in the 32nd minute gave Washington & Jefferson a lead it would not relinquish and the Presidents rolled past Thiel 4-0 on Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.
The Presidents (5-5-3, 3-1-1 PAC) own a 5-1-2 record since a Sept. 22 victory over then nationally-ranked Berry (Ga.). W&J is tied for second in the league, a half game behind Westminster (4-1-1).
Junior forward Cody Peddicord (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) lofted a free kick into the box which Vecchio headed home for the eventual game winner.
The score remained that way for nearly 48 minutes until sophomore forward Brian Hanna (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler Area) put W&J ahead by two off another feed from Peddicord. Peddicord tacked on a goal 89 seconds later as Hanna returned the favor with an assist and senior forward David Banko (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) delivered a penalty kick goal in the 87th minute for the final margin.
W&J outshot Thiel (4-9-2, 0-4-1 PAC) by a 15-4 margin and received three saves from sophomore goalie Jon Best (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin). Best, who played 83 minutes, made a pair of key saves to keep the score 1-0 early in the second half.
Joe Iorio stopped seven shots in the loss for the Tomcats.
The Presidents return to action on Friday night when traveling to local-rival Waynesburg for an 8:30 pm match.
