Pioneers men's soccer closes out regular season with 3-0 loss to Ohio Northern
Marietta will host OAC Tournament Quarterfinal Monday at 2 p.m.

Oct. 31, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — Entering the last regular season game Friday (Oct. 31) afternoon tied in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) standings, the Marietta College and Ohio Northern University men's soccer teams went head-to-head on Marietta Field to determine who would earn the third seed in the upcoming OAC Tournament. The Polar Bears secured the third seed and a home game in the first round of the tournament with a 3-0 win, spoiling Senior Day for the Pioneers.

The win, improved Ohio Northern's record to 14-5-1 overall and 5-3-1 in the OAC. Marietta fell to 9-6-3 overall and 4-4-1 in league play. Fortunately, the Pioneers will also get a home game in the OAC Quarterfinals, which take place Monday (Nov. 3) afternoon at 2 p.m. Marietta earned the fourth seed after regular season champion Capital Univeristy and Otterbein College battled to a 2-2 tie on Friday afternoon. John Carroll has already locked in the second seed but the final two spots are still up for grabs between Wilmington College, Heidelberg College and Muskingum College.

Ohio Northern out-shot Marietta 16-13, including 9-5 in shots on goal. The Polar Bears also held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.

The Polar Bears took a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute when Jimmy Matuszak found the back of the net off a rebound from just outside the six-yard box. The goal, his third of the year, was assisted by Nate Bascom. Ohio Northern took the 1-0 advantage into halftime.

Marietta, who played the final 64:30 with just 10 men after a player earned two yellow cards, surrendered two goals late in the game to fall behind 3-0. Adam Ross chipped the Pioneer keeper from 18-yards out in the 73rd minute and then scored on a penalty kick after a foul in the box in the 76th minute for his sixth and seventh goals of the season.

Senior Steve Hagenau (Clearwater, Fla./Central Catholic) made six saves and allowed three goals in 78:06. Senior Tad Cochran (Westerville/Worthington Christian) came in to shut down the Polar Bears for the final 11:54. Aaron Collins made five saves en route to his 10th shutout of the year.

Marietta now turns its attention to the OAC Tournament. It will be just the Pioneers' third appearance in the tournament in program history but the second in as many years. Last year, sixth-seeded Marietta fell to third-seeded John Carroll in the first round. The Pioneers' first round opponent will be announced on Saturday (Nov. 1) after the final regular season games are played.

Admission will be charged for Monday's game at Marietta Field, which begins at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $2 for non-OAC students. OAC students will be admitted free with a valid identification. OAC Lifetime Passes will also be honored.