ALTOONA, PA:  Joel Nau punched in a redirected shot just three minutes into overtime to give Marietta College a 1-0 victory over Albright in the first round of the 2007 Penn State Altoona Challenge Cup Saturday.  Marietta moves on to face Penn State Altoona in the championship game at 4 PM on Sunday.

The deciding tally came in the 92nd minute via a double assist from Pioneer reserves Adedapo Dele and Bradley Baweja.  The initial shot and subsequent redirect was corralled by Nau, who sent his Marietta squad to its first Challenge Cup title game since the inaugural 2004 tournament. 

The two squads went back and forth during the 90-minute regulation as both had chances to crack the scoreboard.  The Pioneers out-shot the Lions from Albright 17-8 but just three of the 17 attempts were on goal.   Marietta goalkeeper Thad Cochran had four saves and was credited with the shutout.  Albright managed four shots on goal that were all saved by Cochran, who was credited with the shutout.    

Albright will play in tomorrow's Consolation game against Thiel College, which fell at the hands of Penn State Altoona 4-0.  That game will begin at 12:00 noon. 

GAME 2:       Penn State Altoona       4           Thiel College       0 

ALTOONA, PA:  Sophomore Len Castor scored two goals, and senior Bryan Pierzga added a goal and an assist to help Penn State Altoona down Thiel College 4-0 Saturday in the first round of the 2007 Penn State Altoona Challenge Cup Tournament.  The Lions will move on to face Marietta College, who defeated Albright 1-0, Sunday at 4:00 PM in the championship game.

The hosts out-shot the Tomcats of Thiel 32-5 on the game and fired 12 shots on goal.  Pierzga's goal came in the eighth minute via a double assist from Tim Morris and Dan Saxton.  Castor got his first tally at the 19:05 mark after Pierzga found him right in front of the net.  Less than two minutes later, freshman Joe Monaco blasted a one timer from 40 yards out that beat Thiel goalkeeper Owen Gayzur.  With the game well in hand, Castor again was the beneficiary of a JC Campbell feed in the left box for the goal at the 64:57 mark. 

Gayzur finished the evening with five saves for Thiel while reserve goalkeeper Tim Smith recorded two.  Every Penn State Altoona starter attempted at least one shot.  The Lions have won the last two Challenge Cup championships and defeated Albright in last year's title tilt. 

The Tomcats will now meet Albright College in the consolation game tomorrow afternoon at 12:00 noon.