Box Score Abington, Pa. - After opening the season 3-0 for the first time since 2000, the Penn State Abington men's soccer team was looking to continue the streak today against the Wildcats of SUNY IT. After a back-and-forth hour of play, the Nittany Lions (4-0, 3-0 NEAC) closed out the game with two solid goals and took home the victory.
 
The first 25 minutes of play opened with the teams feeling each other's defense out. Both sides got several shots on goal and earned corner kicks. But in each case, the shots were either well off mark or the goalkeepers were able to keep the ball out of the net. In the 26^th minute, senior forward Marco Paparo came onto the field as a substitute, and thus began a magical night.
 
Just five minutes later, it was Paparo who got the home side on the board. After receiving the ball in the midfield, he dribbled down the right sideline. A Wildcat defender raced over to try to cut him off near the right side of the penalty box. Paparo was able to beat the opposing player and continue towards the endline. Taking a few more touches, Paparo drilled a shot towards the net, beating the keeper on a bad angle and squeezing the ball just inside the post. The goal put the Nittany Lions up 1-0, a lead which they would hang on to for the rest of the half.
 
Just ten minutes into the second half, the Wildcats (3-4, 0-2 NEAC) came right back and tied the game back up. After the ball worked down the right side of the field, it deflected high into the penalty box. Freshman goalkeeper James Carlin raced out to try and scoop it up, but at the same time junior Diego Montaleza raced to retain possession. Montaleza just beat Carlin to the ball and tipped it through his hands and past the freshman keeper. The Wildcats forward was then able to send a low cross across the face of the wide open goal, where senior midfielder Mario Gomez was waiting all alone. Gomez calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net, and the game was once again knotted up at 1-1.
 
From this point out, the game could've easily gone either way. The Nittany Lions could have given into frustration from allowing the garbage goal and allowed several more. Or they could buck up and fight right back. Fortunately for the home fans, it was a case of the later, and once again it was Marco Paparo who got the job done.
 
In the 68^th minute, the Nittany Lions earned a free kick about 15 yards into the attacking half. Junior defender Phil Curry stepped up to take the set piece, and it was a beauty. Curry sent in a low, driving ball right into the top center of the penalty box. Paparo was waiting at the exact perfect spot, and rose up to meet the ball with his head. He simply redirected the ball along a slightly different path, and it continued to rocket straight into the back of the net, putting Penn State Abington right back on top.
 
The home team got an insurance goal just a little over ten minutes later to close out the game, and from who else but Paparo once again. This time, senior Julian Ward took the ball down the right side of the field once more. After working his way around his defender, Ward was able to send a great cross into the box. Paparo was waiting at the top of the goal box with a defender on his back. Junior goalkeeper Malick Faye came out to try and collect the ball, but it got to the feet of Paparo first, who tipped it past the keeper and into the back of the net.
 
The 3-1 win moves the Nittany Lions to 4-0 on the season and continues their undefeated conference season, keeping them atop of the NEAC conference standings. Penn State Abington will have a chance to continue their undefeated run tomorrow afternoon as they face off against SUNY Cobleskill. The Fighting Tigers got their first win of the season today against Penn State Berks, by a score of 3-2 in overtime. Gametime for Sunday's matchup is set for 4 p.m. at Germantown Academy. Keep in tune to abingtonsports.com for all your Nittany Lions updates this season.