Muccillo Hat Trick Leads Scots to CCS Quarterfinal Victory

Box Score MARYVILLE - After Scoring two goals against Huntingdon last week, Brooklyn Muccillo found the net three times in tonight's 4-1 CCS Tournament Quarterfinal victory over Belhaven. The hat trick tonight marks the first of his collegiate career.
 
The Scots have now scored 11 goals in their last three contests. This marks the highest-scoring three-game stretch of the season. In fact, at the beginning of the season, Maryville did not score their 11th goal until their 10th match of the year (a 3-2 victory over Belhaven on Oct. 1).
 
With the conference tournament upon us, Maryville has gotten it rolling at exactly the right time.
 
"There is a lot of offensive talent in this group, and we're now starting to see it come to fruition," Maryville associate head coach Jon Baker said. "Some of the early games that we lost, when you look at the stats, we were out-shooting teams. We just weren't finishing them.
 
"Finishing is just like any sport," Baker said. "Basketball shooting can be either hot or cold, baseball you are either hitting or you are not, and soccer is the same way. It's a confidence thing, and now they've got a bit of confidence and are playing well."


 
Muccillo should have as much confidence as anybody right now, scoring his fifth, sixth, and seventh goals of the season tonight. His first goal came off an assist from William Bryan in the 11th minute. He fielded a centering pass from the left side of the box and scored on a one-timer from 10 yards out.
 
The sophomore's second goal of the night came in the 29th minute when he found the back of the net with a header on a pass from Craig McIlwraith. Aidan McWilliams also recorded an assist on the play.
 
His third goal came in the 50th minute when Ndubueze Henry lofted a pass from the corner flag and Muccillo connected on a phenomenal mid-air one-timer from 12 yards out.
 
Baker said Muccillo's success is part of the entire offensive unit finding its footing.
 
"Brooklyn getting five goals in the last two games is not only a testament to his hard work but to the rest of the guys who work hard to get him the ball," Baker said. "Jorge Graniel had another outstanding game, Henry worked hard, Bryan always works hard. It was a good game."
 
The Scots look to continue their momentum as they go on the road for their CCS Tournament Semifinal matchup against No. 2 seed Covenant. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.