Hazleton handles Mont Alto 7-0

Hazleton, Pa. - Hazleton bounced back into the win column at home on Saturday with a 7-0 victory over Penn State University Athletic Conference opponent Mont Alto. Hazleton controlled the tempo all afternoon, keeping the ball in their opponents zone. The Lions held Mont Alto to zero first half shot attempts while they built up a 3-0 advantage by the midway point and never gave up that momentum through the second half. Hazleton would tack on four scores over just an eight minute stretch of play midway through second period to put the game well out of reach and earn their first conference win of the season. 

The Lions out-shot Mont Alto 34-5 when it was all said and done, making for an easy, zero save victory for sophomore keeper Brandon Yocum (Bloomsburg, Pa.) who earned the shut-out in 60 minutes of work. Sophomore Moussa Diouf (Carteret, Nj.) tallied his third multi-goal game of the season along with a two-score effort from junior Ben Pasukinis (Benton, Pa.), while single tallies from sophomores Jason Klusewitz (Mountain Top, Pa.), Kaleab Tekleyohannes (Gaithersburg, Md.) and Sohail Ahmedshaker (Brooklyn, Ny.) rounded out the Hazleton offensive outpouring.

Moments that Mattered

Diouf sets the pace

The sophomore standout put the Lions on top early with his sixth and seventh scores of the season. Diouf collected a rocket of a shot attempt by Klusewitz that rebounded off the Mont Alto keeper in 14th minute of play to give Hazleton a 1-0 lead and later broke free on through ball up the left side of the box sent by senior Michael Principe (Jim Thorpe, Pa.) to widen Hazleton's margin in the 32 minute.

Breakout second half effort for Pasukinis

Hampered by minor injuries from the Lion's first game of the season, the junior had been held scoreless through Hazleton's first five games of the season. But all that changed in the second half against Mont Alto as Pasukinis broke onto the board with a two- score flurry beginning at the 70th minute.

As Hazleton threatened in the Mont Alto box, Pasukinis received a fine pass from Ahmedshaker, firing a shot off the keeper then sending in his own rebound with a header. Just two minutes and change later, Pasukinis would again find paydirt, making a run on a through ball from senior Steven Principe (Jim Thorpe, Pa.) striking the ball in stride to the right side of the net. 

Next Up

Hazleton continues an action packed weekend with a major test on Sunday afternoon. The Lions will take on Penn State New Kensington at Community Park at 1:00 p.m. looking to remain unbeaten in the PSUAC.