The Pioneers have kept their winning streak going with their ninth consecutive win this past Saturday against Asbury University (Ky).
The week started on Tuesday for the Pioneers against National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Salem International (W.Va.).
Senior forward Lucas Silva scored both goals for Point Park in the 14th and the 81st minutes of the game. This left the final score at 2-1.
Silva has now earned himself the Point Park record for most goals scored in a season, beating out Chris Heh, who scored 21 goals in 1998. Silva has now scored 24.
Point Park led in shots over Salem International at 17-3.
On Saturday, the Pioneers faced an away game against Asbury, which set the record for the season with a record of 14-2 overall and a perfect 4-0 Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) record.
The win against Asbury gives the Pioneers the KIAC regular season championship for the third year in a row.
Silva, Lucas Godinho and Gabriel Colombo all made goals in the game against Asbury for a 3-0 score.
Point Park has also moved up three spots in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men’s Soccer Coaches’ Top 25 Poll to No.20 in the nation, the highest every ranking for the Pioneers.
“Asbury’s game wasn’t as hard as we thought it was going to be,” Godinho said. “However, this victory was really important because it gave us the best record in the history of PPU men’s soccer. That is a great achievement for us, but it is not going to mean anything if we lose in the playoffs. Therefore, even though we are doing well we need to keep focus in our ultimate goal that is to go the nationals in Florida.”
Point Park’s next game is Saturday, Nov. 14th, which is the KIAC/GCAC Unaffiliated Group Tournament. The Pioneers will have a bye into the semifinals of the six-team, single elimination tournament. The champion will receive an automatic entrance to the NAIA national tournament.
“I expect great things from this team,” Silva said. “We are all very excited for playoffs and we are as ready as we will ever be to do great that weekend and go into the nationals. The talent and the team spirit is there, and we know that from now on every time we step on the field its going to be a battle.”
