Boxscore
LANGHORNE, PA - PBU's Men's Soccer team came out on top against long-time rivals Baptist Bible College 4-1 on Saturday, in front of a large and boisterous Homecoming crowd.
The win means the Crimson Eagles have their first CSAC win of the season under their belt and home field advantage throughout the NCCAA East Region playoffs. PBU still has yet to play Valley Forge Christian College, but the worst PBU could finish in-region is 2-1, with PBU winning on tie-breaker because of their now head-to-head win against BBC.
In a very back-and-forth match, it was crucial to get on the scoreboard first and that is what the Crimson Eagles did. Early goals have been prevelant in PBU's recent matches, but often going in favor for the opposition. This time, the Crimson Eagles made sure they wouldn't have to fight from behind.
In the 13th minute, junior Seth Mangum picked out sophomore Gary Bruce with an inch perfect cross to the back post for Bruce to nod over the diving Defender keeper, Dillon Bowman.
There was plenty of action for the remaining 30 minutes of the 1st half, but there would be no more goals. Both sides would record 10 shots in the first stanza.
In the second half, PBU took the same approach and made sure if anyone was to score the first blow of the half it would be them. 10 minutes after the restart, Seth Mangum once again found Bruce inside the box for the Englishman to chip over the onrushing Bowman, giving PBU a 2-0 lead.
Baptist Bible would make things interesting for a bit, as Peter Paye found himself poking the ball past PBU goalkeeper Dave Shaffer in the 69th minute, after a mix-up in communication on the Crimson Eagles backline.
The Crimson Eagles responded the best way you can, restore your 2-goal cushion. Less than a minute after Paye's goal, PBU had flown down the other end of the field to win a corner-kick. Sophomore Jeremy McAlack out jumped a swarm of people to head home his first goal of the season and giving PBU their desired 2-goal cushion.
With less than 10 minutes to play, some nice passing by PBU found Gary Bruce in alone on BBC's goal. Bruce was tripped up as he rounded the keeper and the Crimson Eagles were awarded a penalty-kick. Senior captain Justin Hays stepped up to calmly slot home, putting the match firmly out of reach at 4-1.
In the end, PBU would have 21 shots. Baptist Bible would record 20 shots, many coming off of restarts. BBC's Joseph Peterson alone had 6 of BBC's shots.
Junior forward Seth Mangum finished the game with 3 assists and was the spearhead for many of PBU's attacks.
PBU improves to 4-6 overall and more importantly get that first allusive CSAC win.
The Crimson Eagles return to the field on Wednesday, October 5th, to take on Rosemont College. Last season's contest between these two sides ended in a 0-0 draw.
