Men's Soccer captures ONU Invitational title for third straight time with 3-0 win over PSU-Behrend

By: Jay Garneau

ADA — The No. 4-ranked Ohio Northern men's soccer team used a trio of first half goals to defeat Penn State-Behrend by a 3-0 score to win the 2011 ONU Invitational at the ONU Soccer Field on Saturday afternoon.

The Polar Bears remain undefeated with a 6-0 record, while the Lions fall to 1-2-1.

Sophomore Jeremy Barnes got the scoring started when he put a Greg Stawicki pass into the net in the fifth minute, tallying his third of the year.

In the 12th minute, junior Chris Matejka took advantage of a pair of excellent passes by Stawicki and senior Cory Dobkins to score his first goal of the year and push the score to 2-0.

Junior Nate Bascom rounded out the scoring in the 19th minute, when he knocked in a header off a cross from senior Abrim Mueller for his second goal of the season.

Mueller, Dobkins and Stawicki each have three assists this season.

Junior Mac Church earned his fourth shutout of the year by stopping all four shots he faced.

"We're happy with how we've started the season," said head coach Brent Ridenour. "Mac [Church] and our whole defense have been playing tremendously."

ONU outshot the Lions 22-15, with 12 on goal compared to PSU-Behrend's 4.

PSU-Behrend and Oberlin each finished the Invitational with a 1-1 record, while Defiance had an 0-2 record.

Northern has now won the ONU Invitational three straight times.

The Polar Bears will be back in action Tuesday, when they host Wittenberg for a 4 p.m. contest.