Box Score

HAVERFORD, Pa. – Senior Geoff Menge (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) recorded his first career hat trick as the Gettysburg College men's soccer team ended a four-match losing skid with a big 6-2 Centennial Conference victory over host Haverford College on Saturday afternoon.

Plagued by four-consecutive one-goal losses, Gettysburg (5-5-2, 2-3-0 CC) broke out of its longest losing streak (tied) in two decades with its highest scoring effort in two seasons. The Bullets bettered their scoring output in their previous five matches combined thanks to a breakout game by Menge, who tallied three goals and an assist for a career-high seven points.

Menge kicked off Gettysburg's offensive explosion with some help from fellow senior captain Ryan Shaffer (Biglerville, Pa./Biglerville) in the 18th minute. Shaffer initiated the play by lacing a shot at the goal that was pushed away by the Haverford goalie, but the ensuing rebound went right to Menge who kicked the ball home.

The Bullets struck twice more in less than five minutes with sophomore Eric Hynes (Far Hills, N.J./The Pingry School) notching his fifth goal of the fall off a cross from sophomore Doug Ammon (Bala Cynwyd, Pa./Episcopal Academy) at 20:14 and Shaffer beating a defender and the goalie at 22:09.

Haverford (5-6, 1-4 CC) put a tally in the scoring column in the 27th minute when Matt Gorski lined a free kick into the goal, cutting the deficit to 3-1. However, Menge regained the three-goal lead for the visitors with his second goal at 40:19, converting a feed from junior Teddy Smith (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial).

The Bullets kept up the pressure in the second half and Menge once again kick-started the effort by capping his hat trick just five minutes in. Awarded a free kick just outside the 18, Gettysburg set up a play with Hynes back-tapping the ball to Menge who blasted the ball into the left corner at 50:28. Menge became the first Bullet with a hat trick since Brandon Bell performed the deed against Washington (Md.) College on Oct. 13, 2007.

The Fords answered with their second goal less than a minute after Menge's final score, but Shaffer capped the scoring at 6-2 with his second goal off a feed from Menge at 57:22.

Gettysburg held an 18-10 shot advantage over Haverford, while corner kicks were even at five apiece.

Menge finished with seven shots on the afternoon with Shaffer, Hynes, and freshman Andrew McLane (Newtown, Pa./St. Joe's Prep) each firing three. Freshman Mike Walmer (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) played the entire 90 minutes in goal for the Bullets and finished with four saves.

Gettysburg returns to action against Washington on Friday, Oct. 16, as part of Homecoming Weekend. Game time is set for 7 p.m. from Clark Field.