GROVE CITY, Pa. -- In each of its first two Presidents' Athletic Conference matches this season, the Grove City College men's soccer team had a player score a hat trick while the Wolverine defense posted a shutout.

Wednesday night, the Wolverines went back to that tried-and-true formula. The result? Another conference victory, this time, a 3-0 triumph over visiting Westminster at Don Lyle Field.

Senior forward Sam Belitz (Independence, Ohio/Independence) blasted in three goals, including two penalty kicks in the second half. Senior goalkeeper Jesse Greyshock (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) anchored a defense that allowed only five total shots and two shots on goal. 

Belitz gave Grove City (5-4, 3-0 PAC) a 1-0 lead at 27:18 when he headed in a cross from junior midfielder Matt Van Kirk (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny). Van Kirk tallied his first collegiate assist on the play. 

Grove City broke open the match with two goals in less than two minutes early in the second half. Belitz buried a penalty kick at 48:36, pushing the lead to 3-0. Ninety-four seconds later, a Westminster foul in the box and subsequent yellow card resulted in another penalty kick. Belitz converted the shot into his ninth goal of the season. 

Grove City outshot Westminster, 22-5, and held a 9-2 advantage in shots on goal. Grove City had eight corner kicks while limiting Westminster (5-4-1, 0-2-1 PAC) to one corner. 

Greyshock made two saves in posting his fourth shutout win of the season. 

Belitz also recorded a hat trick last Saturday in the Wolverines' 6-0 win at Franciscan. Last Wednesday, junior forward Hunter Hardin (North Ridgeville, Ohio/Freeport) scored three times in the second half of a 3-0 win over Chatham in the league opener. 

Belitz moved into fifth place on Grove City's career scoring list with 36 goals. His 81 career points are No. 6 all-time at Grove City. 

This is the first time since October 14-21, 2017 that Grove City has posted three straight shutouts. Greyshock is the first Grove City goalkeeper with three straight shutout wins since Malcolm Blake achieved the feat five years ago. Wednesday night's win marked Grove City's first shutout of Westminster since a 3-0 home win October 25, 2014. 

Grove City steps out of conference play Saturday night to host Point Park at 7:30 p.m. at Don Lyle Field as part of Homecoming Weekend.