GREENVILLE, Pa. — PJ Manuzzi (Whippany, N.J., Whippany Park) scored just 1:04 into Thiel's season opener as the Tomcats shut out visiting Mt. Aloysius 3-0 Wednesday at Alumni Stadium.

Manuzzi, one of nine freshmen to start for coach Andy Hoggarth's Tomcats, received a long pass from Rory Duncan (Chardon, Ohio, Chardon) and beat the lone Mounties' defender in his way to put his team ahead 1-0.

"It's good to score early and get the game off to a good start," Hoggarth said. "I thought we played well for about 60 minutes, then we got a little ragged. But it was the first game and a win's a win."

In another freshman-to-freshman play, the Tomcats went up 2-0 when Daniel Regan (Waterford, Pa., General Mclane) scored on a corner kick from Tyler Hanks (Cleveland, Ohio, Olmstead Falls) at the 31:19 mark in the first half. 

"We could start 11 (freshmen) if we wanted to," Hoggarth said of his young squad.  "The freshmen class is strong, but the returning players have also worked hard and responded to what the freshmen have brought and improved."

One of those upperclassmen, sophomore Matthew Tharp (Hubbard, Ohio, Liberty) put the Tomcats up 3-0 with his first goal of the season. Duncan notched his second assist of the  game on Tharp's goal, which came in the 60th minute.

Thiel goalies Tom Lange (Poland, Ohio, Poland Seminary) and Josh Hideg (Hubbard, Ohio, Liberty) combined on the shutout. Lange played the first half and stopped three shots while Hideg was in net for the second half and made two saves.

The Tomcats will play their second non-conference matchup in as many days when they host Point Park today at 5 p.m.

Box Score
Photo Gallery