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Marietta College men’s soccer routs Muskingum, 5-0

Everyone in a Pioneer men’s soccer uniform saw action on the pitch.

Joe Bergin got an opportunity to clear the bench in Marietta College 5-0 triumph over Muskingum University in an Ohio Athletic Conference match Wednesday at Marietta Field.

“It was a lot easier than I thought, and it’s always nice to beat your rival,” said the fourth-year MC soccer boss, whose Pioneer roster includes 28 players.

“We knew that they (Fighting Muskies) weren’t having the best season,” Bergin continued, “so it was just a matter of getting on them early and getting in their head a little bit — and we did.”

Senior striker Taylor Reasoner scored his second career hat trick to lead the Pioneer booters. Freshman midfielder Cole Pappas added one goal (his first college career score) and two assists, while junior mid Alex Gruss had one goal (his first of the season) and one assist.

“We had a game plan, and we came out and executed it,” Reasoner said. “This Muskingum team, they’re not a bad team. We just played really well today.”

Marietta outshot Muskingum, 21-5.

“We were ready for this rival game, and we were able to put a couple away early, “ Reasoner said. “That extended into the second half, and we just put them away, so we can get some rest for our starters and let the rest of the guys get some minutes.”

Reasoner also scored three goals in MC’s win against LaRoche (Pa.) College last year. The talented net-bender has five scores in his last two matches, and a team-high eight on the season. According to Bergin, he’d gotten off to a slow start.

“Taylor’s off the snide, five goals in two games,” Bergin said. “It’s massive for us, now, that he’s on a roll. He’s got the confidence now to shoot from anywhere. I love it that he’s on fire.”

MC goalkeepers’ Tyler Sholl, Trevor Dykstra, and Adam Hoot combined to record a clean sheet, the Pioneers’ fourth of the fall campaign. Sholl — who started — and Dykstra each had one save.

“It’s good to get a shutout with Sholl in the goal,” said Marietta junior center back Brent Huck (also a former MHS Tigers’ standout). “To keep the other team from scoring is a great result. We were phenomenal today on both sides of the ball, attacking and defensively. We’re really molding together well this year.”

Marietta improved its record to 7-4-1 overall and 2-0 in the OAC, while Chris Limle-coached Muskingum fell to 3-8-1 and 0-2. The Muskies only attempted five shots, two on the frame, in the match.

“It’s just unfortunate that we weren’t clicking today,” said MU senior mid Nick Koch, who played his prep soccer at Warren High. “We’re missing a lot of key players right, now, and you could tell that by what happened today. We’ve just been unlucky.”

In the seventh minute, when the Muskingum defense was unable to clear the ball out, Reasoner hustled, got past keeper Josh Routt, and made the Muskies pay with a goal from point-blank range. Huck was credited with an assist.

Continuing to press the attack, Marietta stretched its advantage to 2-0 on Reasoner’s second goal of the match in the 34th minute. Pappas got the assist.

“Muskingum’s heads went down (after the first goal), and then we got the second goal in the first half, which was nice,” Bergin said.

MC led 2-0 at the intermission, and Muskingum had attempted only three shots with none on the frame.

During the opening minute of the second half, Gruss tapped in a Pappas feed to make it 3-0.

“And, then, we scored in the first 30 seconds of the second half,” Bergin said. “It was over. And then we scored again, and it was just a matter of getting our other guys in the game.”

A couple of minutes or so later, Pappas got an unassisted goal when he chipped the ball over Routt’s head from the left corner of the 18. The Pioneers now owned a commanding 4-0 advantage but there was still a lot of time remaining in the contest.

With a bright sun at his back in the 55th minute, Reasoner drilled a laser shot from the top right of the 18-yard box inside the right post to cap all the scoring. Gruss was credited with an assist.

“I’m sure it had a little bit to do with the sun,” Reasoner said. “Their goalie (Routt) was looking right into the sun. Who knows? A goal’s a goal. I’ve had my pretty goals, and I’ve had my ugly goals. As long the ball rolls into the back of the net, I don’t really care. I’m just here to try to get this team a win.”

Added Bergin, “It was hard to see, and it’s tough. But our guys played well. It’s a hard field to play on, because it’s so bumpy, and it doesn’t play very well to our style. But we figured it out, and started knocking the balls into the channels and started making runs off of that.”

Marietta College is scheduled to play at John Carroll University in an OAC tilt at Don Shula Field Saturday at 7 p.m.

“We’ve got Carroll and Mount Union (Oct. 11) coming up, both on the road,” Bergin said. “It’s going to be a tough battle (Saturday).”

In an OAC match Tuesday night, Hector Marinaro-led JCU (5-5-1, 2-0) blanked visiting Heidelberg University, 3-0.

Reasoner said that he’s looking forward to the showdown with the Blue Streaks.

“It was a slow start to the season for me, but it’s picked up a little bit in the last couple of games,” Reasoner said. “I hope I can keep it going this weekend in a real, tough test against John Carroll at their place. I think we’re ready for it.”

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