With the month of October half over, the Lancaster Bible men's soccer team has to be wondering if we can extend it past the typical 31 days as the Chargers improved to 6-0 in October with a 4-1 victory over Penn St. Abington at Charger Field. Lancaster Bible is unbeaten in its past seven games and the team's six-game winning streak ties the program record. Thursday's win moves the Chargers to 9-2-3 overall and 6-2-1 in North Eastern Athletic Conference play.

How it Happened: Lancaster Bible got on the board just 6:08 into the game as sophomore Spencer Lockard leapt up over everyone and converted Josiah Groff's corner kick into a 1-0 Chargers' lead. Several players attempted to get a head on the ball, but Lockard timed his jump perfectly and headed the ball up and over the Abington goalkeeper into the left-hand side of the net. After the teams exchanged possession for the next 15 minutes, Lancaster Bible goalkeeper Josue Bosque made back-to-back saves to keep the score 1-0. 

It would not remain 1-0 for long as Groff took a beautiful feed from sophomore Edward Bills and gave the Chargers a 2-0 lead at the 24:52 mark. The game opened up from there as each team had scoring chances and corner kick opportunities, but it was once again the Chargers who were able to capitalize on their chances as freshman Caleb Nelson found the back of the net with 3:56 remaining in the half. Bills somewhat innocently crossed the ball into the box, but the pass found Nelson who scored through a crowd of defenders to give Lancaster Bible a three-goal lead heading into halftime.

After the Chargers had a few chances to extend their lead, the Nittany Lions got onto the board with a penalty kick goal by Pablo Zalduondo with 25:11 to play. After a handball by the Chargers in the box, Zalduondo converted his chance to right side of Bosque. The Nittany Lions had a few chances to cut the deficit to one, but Bosque and the Chargers' defense were up to the task and Lancaster Bible was award its own penalty kick try at the 82:17 mark after Penn St. Abington committed a foul in the box. Bills stepped up to the line and for the third time in three tries this season, he converted the penalty kick to seal the win for the Chargers.

By the Numbers: Groff's goal was his 12th of the season as he continues to lead the NEAC in both goals and points (29)...Bills' goal was his fifth of the season and his two assists give him five for the season which is tied for the team lead with Groff...Lockard and Nelson each scored their second goals of the year...Bosque continues to be impressive in goal as he made seven saves and improved to 7-0-1...Penn St. Abington outshot the Chargers, 15-13, while Lancaster Bible had seven corner kicks to the Nittany Lions' four.

The Coach Says: "Today was a good win for us and it was great to get those early goals and give ourselves a lead," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Tom Ardt said. "Abington always competes hard and it was good for us to play well against a good team. I liked our scoring opportunities and thought we read the game well when they changed a few things up. I thought Dooley attacking down the right side was important offensively and defensively we won a ton of 50-50 balls which is always important for us."

Information Hodge Podge: Lancaster Bible now leads the all-time series against Penn St. Abington, 3-2-2...Groff now has 64 points for his career, which ties him for 14th place all-time with Lawrence Lartey (2009-11)...Groff's 12 goals are the most in a single season since Cory Greiser scored 12 during the 2009 campaign...Bosque's .907 save percentage leads the NEAC and his 0.59 goals against average is the second-best mark in the conference...Lancaster Bible also won six straight games in 1976, 1985, 1988 and 2009.

Up Next: Lancaster Bible will travel west on Route 283 to face Elizabethtown on Saturday at 4:30 p.m...The Blue Jays are ranked 16th in NCAA Division III and it will be the first time in program history the Chargers have played a team ranked in the top-25...Saturday is also Elizabethtown's Homecoming.