Box Score
CLARKS SUMMIT, PA - Heading into their highly anticipated tilt with Baptist Bible College, the men's soccer team had scored just four goals throughout the squad's opening four games of the season.
On Tuesday, that all changed.
The floodgates broke open on the offensive side of the ball as the Crimson Eagles equated their season goal total during a 4-1 romp over the Defenders.
And what a time to have an offensive awakening.
With tune-up performances officially in the rear view mirror, Tuesday's outing with Baptist signaled PBU's first conference bout of the season. It was also a performance that saw PBU drill three goals during the second frame alone to help the Crimson Eagles make it five straight years since they've lost to their longtime rival.
Despite ball control in heavy favor of the Defenders during the opening stanza, the visitors received a gift 15 minutes in when Justin Hays drilled a shot at BBC keeper Ian McGovern who promptly watched the ball slip through his hands and into the back of the cage.
The fatal mistake would remain the game's only score until six minutes into the second period when rookie Gary Bruce collected and buried a ricocheted shot that had bounced off the keeper. Thirty seconds later, Hays was at work again, firing a frozen rope that made a v-line for the back of the net to help put the visitors up 3-0.
Baptist would make a push midway through the back end of play when forward Josiah Mantz pumped in a shot from 10 yards out, but PBU responded in ample fashion, collecting their fourth goal of the game during the 71st minute.
Freshman Dave Schaffer proved to be a rock in the net for the Crimson Eagles, providing seven crucial stops throughout the affair to help preserve PBU's sixth ever win within CSAC play.
Hays and Bruce both torched BBC's back line by recording two scores apiece during a game that marks PBU's most productive outburst since a 6-1 triumph over Davis College back in late October of last year.
The Crimson Eagles move to 2-4 overall on the season while Baptist slips to 1-4.
The soccer team will take a rare extended break from their game schedule this week, returning to the field next Monday for their annual date with Widener College. Game time in Langhorne is 4:00 pm.
