The Statesmen (3-7-1) won for the first time in eight games and hopefully steadied the ship for the remaining games on their regular season slate.

It did not come easy, however, as Penn, who outshot Avila 12-4 in the first 45 minutes, was knotted in a scoreless tie for much of the first half until it got worse when the Eagles took a 1-0 advantage just prior to the break.

Rather than pack up and allow the losing streak to grow to monumental proportions, the Statesmen came out of intermission with a renewed fire and scored in the 50th minute.

That is when Jamie Gibbons (Sr., West Des Moines, Iowa Western CC) recorded his first goal of the year off a pass from Jacob Plocher (Sr., West Plains, Mo., West Plains HS) to tie the game at 1-1.

Penn then finished the deal in the 72nd minute when Nik Rule (Sr., Idaho Falls, Idaho, Skyline HS) put home a corner kick from Plocher.

The goal is Rule's team-leading eighth of the season, while Plocher now heads the squad with five assists.

The Statesmen defense took over from that juncture and secured the victory, the first for Penn since a 7-0 win over York (Neb.) on August 30.

Seven players tallied two shots or more as the Statesmen outshot Avila 21-12.

Tadeo Cavazos (Sr., Baytown, Texas, Lee HS) was strong between the pipes with six saves.

Next: Penn travels to Forest City Saturday to face Waldorf in Midwest Collegiate Conference action at 4 p.m.