Gring hat trick leads Juniata men's soccer to victory

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Senior forward Jeff Gring's (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) hat trick led the Eagles to a three goal shutout against the University of Pitt-Bradford Wednesday afternoon at Winton Hill Field. 

Gring first found the back of the net from a senior midfielder Evan LaTourrette (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville) cross in the 13th minute. This goal would prove be all that the Eagles would have needed to bring home the win, but the Eagles were able to keep up the intensity to tack up some more goals within the first 45 minutes of play. 

Juniata (2-0) found itself in another scoring opportunity in the 27th minute when LaTourrette took a corner kick that connected with the head of senior midfielder Luke Waddell (Muncy, Pa./Muncy). Waddell's shot glanced off a Pitt-Bradford (0-4-1) hand, which resulted in a Juniata penalty kick. Gring took the kick and placed the ball perfectly passed Panther goalkeeper Adam Foster. 

However Gring and the Eagles did not stop there. In the 31st minute of the match, unassisted Gring put the third and final goal of the contest on the scoreboard from a drive just beyond the 18, giving him his first collegiate hat trick. 

Juniata junior goalkeeper Ezra Cassel (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) played all 90 minutes and made seven saves in the contest to keep the Panthers scoreless. Out of 11 games Cassel has started in his Juniata career, today's match marked Cassel's fourth shutout. 

Pitt Bradford had eight corner kick opportunities to Juniata's five, but the Eagles outshot the Panthers 17 to 15. 

The Eagles next battle King's College at Winton Hill Field on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 3:30 p.m. 

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