GNAC Men's Soccer Report: Week 1

Elms first-year forward Musa Jiana had three goals for six goals, including two game-winners, as the Blazers went 2-0 and got their first-ever GNAC victory.

September 7, 2021

( FOR THE OPENING WEEK OF SEPT. 1 - 5 )

PLAYER / ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Musa Jiana, Elms (Sophomore, F - Brikama, Gambia) - In a pair of victories for the Blazers, the first-year had three goals, including two game-winners. He scored twice agaisnt Fitchburg State in a 2-0 win before netting the decider against Lasell in a 2-1 GNAC victory, the first for Elms.

GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK

Bryce Antoch, Dean College (Sr., GK - Cranston, R.I.) - Antoch had a great first week of the 2021 season in goal for the Bulldogs. He went 1-1 with a shutout, 15 saves and 2 goals allowed. In the season opener, Antoch kept the Bulldogs close throughout the game against perennial power Babson. The senior allowed just two goals and made 12 saves. Antoch then posted a shutout in a 2-0 victory at Lesley where he made three saves.

HONOR ROLL

Kelvin Cortez, Albertus Magnus (Jr., M - Meriden, Conn.) - In the Falcons' lone game last week, Cortez lifted the team to a thrilling 1-0 victory over Mitchell College on Saturday afternoon. Following a foul in the box, Cortez didn't disappoint on the penalty attempt, lacing a missile into the back corner of the net for the score, giving Albertus the road victory. He also finished the game leading the team in shot attempts with five, two of them on goal.

Hezekiah Adeyeye, Anna Maria (Jr., F - Woonsocket, RI) - Adeyeye had a brilliant start to his 2021 season, scoring two goals with an assist in Anna Maria's 5-5 draw against visiting Curry on Wednesday. Then on Saturday, the junior striker scored the AMCATS only goal of the day against Salve Regina.

Rubelsi Moran, Anna Maria (Fr., M - Holden, MA) - Moran had a fantastic start to his collegiate career, amassing one goal and three assists in just two games for the AMCATS. The freshman midfielder's one goal and two assist performance against Curry on Wednesday helped earn Anna Maria a draw to open their season.

Collin Liedke, Elms (Junior, GK - Newington, Conn.) - In a 2-0 week, the junior stopped six of seven shots, posting a clean sheet against Fitchburg State and stopping four of five shots in a 2-1 GNAC win over Lasell.

Joey Soucy, Emmanuel (Mass.) (Fr, F - Attleboro, Mass.) - Soucy burst onto the collegiate scene scoring two goals in his collegiate debut to help power the Saints past Wentworth, 3-2, in overtime. Soucy netted Emmanuel first goal of the 2021 campaign and closed out the day in style, netting the game-winner in overtime. He scored on his only two shot attempts of the week and helped the Saints pick up a season-opening win for the first time since 2018.

Nick Gutekunst, Johnson & Wales (RI) (Sr., M - East Northport, N.Y.) - Gutekunst connected on a pair of bookend goals in the opener to push JWU to a 3-1 win over Bridgewater State before earning his first helper of the year in JWU's 2-1 non-conference victory over Salve Regina.

Joseph Thongsythavong, Norwich (Jr., F - Salem, Mass.) - Thongsythavong scored a goal and tallied an assist to lead Norwich to a 5-0 win over Wentworth in his lone action of the week.

Jacob Freitas, Regis (Mass.) (So., M/B - Dracut, Mass.) - In his first collegiate soccer match, Freitas scored the game-winning goal with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation to give the Pride a 1-0 victory. Earning a spot in the starting lineup, Freitas tied for the team lead with two shots, both of them on goal, as both squads battled to create scoring chances. In the 83rd minute, Freitas corralled a pass from across the field and beat the Mass Maritime goalie to put the Pride ahead for good.

DeAnte Anderson, St. Joseph (Conn.) (Sr., F - Bloomfield, Conn.) - Anderson picked up right where he left off the 2019 season and potted a pair of goals in the Blue Jays' 2021 season opener on Wednesday evening at Mitchell. Anderson found the back of the net in the 18th and 34th minute in what was an eventual 6-0 rout of the Mariners in USJ's lone game of the week. It marks the seventh time in Anderson's career he has had a multi-goal match.

Quinn Hewitt, Saint Joseph's (Me.) (GR, F - Cape Elizabeth, Maine) - Hewitt scored the Monks' lone goal in a 1-1 tie at Endicott College on Friday night.

David Walbridge, Saint Joseph's (Me.) (GR, GK - Hampden, Mass.) - Walbridge made six saves in a 1-1 double-overtime stalemate with Endicott College on Friday evening.

GNAC WEEKLY ARCHIVE

WEEK	PLAYER	GOALKEEPER	ROOKIE
1	Musa Jiana, ELMS	Bryce Antoch, DEAN	Musa Jiana, ELMS

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 3,500 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

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