Nittany Lions notch shut-out win over Cannoneers
Hazleton, Pa. - The Nittany Lions picked up their first win of the season on Sunday in their home opener as they took on the Cannoneers of Pratt Instiitute. Playing under the direction of new Head Coach John Witkowski, the Lions won the time of possession battle to keep Pratt off the scoreboard for a 1-0 shut-out win. Sophomore Moussa Diouf (Carteret, Nj.) tallied the game's lone score early in the first half coming off a free kick by senior Steven Principe in the 14th minute of play. Seventy-five minutes and several close calls later, Hazleton would close the books on Pratt and find their way to the win column.
Moments that Mattered
Control the Tempo
Despite just one score on the day, Hazleton dictated the pace of play all afternoon. The Lions out-shot Pratt by a ratio of 3:1, totaling 24 shots in the game including an 11-2 margin in the first half. Hazleton might have easily tacked on several insurance scores if not for a fine effort by Pratt's Bubby Vernon who stymied several quality looks by the Hazleton offense and notching eights saves in the contest.