Men's Soccer Juniata Athletic Communications

Juniata Men's Soccer Triumphs in Penalty Shootout Over Drew in Landmark First Round

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata men's soccer team 1-1 (4-1 PKs) won via penalty kicks over visiting Drew University Saturday afternoon at Gibbel Stadium in the Landmark Conference Championships Opening Round.

Steeve Jean-Baptiste scored in the second half, with Tremaine Henry providing the assist. Maxwell Mattioni made one save in goal and stopped two penalty kicks as well. 

In the ninth minute, the Rangers scored when their forward latched onto a long ball over the top of the Juniata defense that fell inside the box. He lobbed the ball over an onrushing M. Mattioni to put Juniata in a 1-0 hole.

In the 25th minute, a Ranger defender fouled Jase Colino and stepped on Colino's face. The ref sent them off, and Drew played the remainder of the game down a man. 

Juniata had a 7-4 advantage in shots at the half. 

The Eagles ramped up the pressure in the second half, firing 13 shots and holding Drew to none. 

In the 83rd minute, Jean-Baptiste received a pass from Nick Mattioni at the Ranger 18, turned past his defender and poked the ball to Henry. Henry deftly took a touch before rolling the ball back to Jean-Baptiste, who took a touch before sending it through the keeper's legs to tie the game. 

The Eagles had their opportunities in overtime, with Ty Mazzarella getting a shot off from a few yards out that the Ranger keeper narrowly saved. 

Juniata went first to open the shootout, and Colino smashed his into the top right corner. M. Mattioni denied the first Ranger shot, pushing it wide of the left post. Jean Baptiste calmly sent the keeper the wrong way, sliding the ball into the left corner. M. Mattioni stood tall again, denying the second PK as they tried to go down the middle. Zachary Anagnos slowly approached the ball before placing it into the bottom left corner past the outstretched hand of the Ranger keeper. Drew made their third PK, which meant Ryan Angelone stood over the ball with a chance to win it. He beat the keeper into the left corner and sprinted over to the right corner to celebrate the Eagles advancing to the Landmark Championship Semifinals. 

Juniata will travel to play the #1-seeded University of Scranton on Wednesday at 4:00 in the semifinals.