MEADVILLE, Pa. -- The Allegheny College men's soccer team celebrated Senior Day with a crucial Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) victory over Thiel College, 5-3, in its 2024 regular-season home finale on Saturday.

Four of Allegheny's (5-10-3, 4-3-2 PAC) five goals were scored by seniors, and the one scored by an underclassman was assisted on by a pair of seniors. Standout forward Brady Napoleon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) led the way with another hat trick, his second of the season, and tied his single-game career-high with seven points. 

Napoleon scored the game's first two goals, but Thiel (7-8-1, 2-7-0 PAC) momentarily stunned the home crowd and the Gators with back-to-back goals in the 54th and 64th minutes. It only took 12 seconds for Allegheny to regain the lead. Cliff Weaver (Silver Spring, Md./Albert Einstein) passed the ball into the penalty area from the left corner, Napoleon got a quick touch, and first-year forward Micah Khembo (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic) put the Blue and Gold ahead with his first of the season.

Weaver and Napoleon provided insurance goals in the 75th and 88th minutes, sandwiched around a third marker from Thiel in the 77th minute. Napoleon's hat-trick tally came on a penalty kick after being taken down in the box, a play which resulted in a trio of yellow cards against the Tomcats.

Before the opening kickoff, the Gators celebrated Senior Day by recognizing Napoleon, Weaver, Colin Elder (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel), Andrea Boccia (Lauria, Italy/Liceo Classico Q.O. Flacco), Cam Kaminski (Bowling Green, Ohio/Maumee Valley Country Day), and Darius Googe (East Hartford, Conn./East Hartford).

Inside the Box Score

• Allegheny finished with 23 shots and 13 shots on goal.
• Thiel had 12 shots, five of which were on target.
• The Gators also had an advantage in corner kicks, 9-to-4.
• Two of Napoleon's three goals were scored on penalty kicks.
• Napoleon led all scorers with seven points (3g-1a).
• Weaver netted one goal with one assist.
• Khembo added one goal and Cole Bowser (Forest Hill, Md./John Carroll) had one assist for the Gators.
• Thiel received goals from Mitchell Strauss, Carson Maurer, and Ethan Bihler.

News and Notes

• Allegheny improved to 4-3-2 against PAC opponents and sits fifth in the standings with 14 points.
• Since returning to the PAC, Allegheny is 3-0-0 against Thiel.
• The Gators tied a season-high with five goals.
• Napoleon has produced hat tricks in two of his last four games.
• Khembo scored his first collegiate goal.

Up Next
The 2024 regular season concludes on Wednesday, October 30, when Allegheny travels to Saint Vincent College. The Gators will be fighting for playoff positioning in the PAC finale, which kicks off at 7:00 p.m.