USJ Men's Soccer Claims First-Ever GNAC Championship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Courtesy of USJ Athletics Communications

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – For the first time in the five-year history of program, the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's soccer team are Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Champions. The Blue Jays came back to defeat second-seeded Johnson & Wales University (JWU) 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex in Providence, R.I. After trailing 1-0 at the half, the Blue Jays scored two goals in the second half to win the first title in program history. The win also marks the 10^th GNAC title across all USJ programs in school history. Senior midfielder Michael Torres(Hartford, Conn.) was named the GNAC Tournament MVP.

KEY MOMENTS 

• JWU generated an early chance, winning a free kick just outside the box in the first minute. Brian Miller (Ramsay, N.J.) struck a shot, but the USJ wall did well to block the strike and keep the game scoreless.
• Torres looked to give the Blue Jays the lead in the sixth minute, but his effort was directed right towards the Wildcats goalkeeper, Jacob Friedman (Woodland Hills, Calif.)
• JWU would pile on the pressure inside the opening portion of the game, forcing an outstanding double-save out of senior goalkeeper Matthew Goebel (Norton, Mass.) in the 11^th minute.
• The Wildcat's offense would ultimately break through USJ's defense, taking the lead in the 26^th minute. Austin Sweeney (Nutley, N.J.) passed the ball across the field to Nick Gutekunst (East Northport, N.Y.), who was waiting on the left flank, just outside the box. Gutekunst would try his luck, looping a shot over Goebel into the top left corner, giving JWU the 1-0 lead.
• Graduate student Jared Galarza (Newington, Conn.) looked to quickly equalize in the 28^th minute, but Friedman came up with the save to preserve the lead.
• The remainder of the second half would go quiet as neither offense generated a goal scoring opportunity until USJ looked to tie the game heading into the halftime break. Galarza would see his initial shot be blocked, with the rebound falling to Brian Silva(Naugatuck, Conn.) on the left flank. Silva would rip a shot, but his effort missed just wide left as JWU went into the halftime break up, 1-0.
• USJ came out on fire in the second half, dominating the run of play. In the 49^thminute, Mergim Kutllovci (Thomaston, Conn.) beautiful ran past the JWU defense into the center of the box, but his strike was perfectly blocked, denying the forward of a clear cut scoring opportunity.
• The Blue Jays kept their foot on the gas, as Benjamin Marchetti (Higganum, Conn.) forced a fine save from Friedman in the 50^th minute, before DeAnte Anderson(Bloomfield, Conn.) missed just high with his shot in the 51^st minute.
• USJ continued to dominate offensively, being rewarded with the equalizing goal in the 59^th minute. Dane Stephens (Jamaica) whipped in a ball to Anderson, who took a touch before curling a shot into the upper left corner, tying the game at 1-1.
• JWU nearly retook the lead in the 74^th minute, as Conner Elliott (Mansfield, Mass.) saw his shot go just wide of the post from the edge of the six-yard box.
• However, it would be USJ that continued its momentum, taking the lead in the 78^th minute. Torres got on the end of a loose ball inside the box, rifling a shot that hit the underside of the crossbar, bouncing over the line and giving the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead.
• The USJ defense continued to dominate the second half, denying JWU from finding an equalizer as the Blue Jays completed its comeback, defeating JWU, 2-1, winning its first GNAC title in program history.

QUOTABLE 

"I'm so proud of this team and what we've accomplished this season, words cannot do this justice," said head coach Paul Wright. "To see the amount of support we received from alumni, sports teams, faculty, staff and player families at the game today was truly amazing. There are so many people across campus to thank that contributed to our success. From our President Free, who was instrumental on our transition to coed and belief in Athletics, our admissions team and their efforts and support, our Athletic Director Amanda Devitt and administration who wholeheartedly support our program and the coaching staff who contribute so many hours beyond their responsibilites. Also Coach Calhoun and the "Calhoun" effect, and the women's softball and men's basketball teams who won the GNAC and show us daily the dedication and effort they make, and lastly, all the other sports teams on campus that help create such a tight knit campus community."

"This game means the world to me. Everyone on this team has put in the hard work since the beginning of the season. This is a special group of guys and I can't imagine being out here with anybody else. Everybody put in the work and it was a team effort, from the goalie all the way up to the striker, everyone put everything out there. This is the best day of our life right here," said Torres.

NOTES 

• Anderson scored his 11^th goal of the season while Torres netted his sixth.
• Stephens dished out his ninth assist of the year.
• Goebel recorded three saves on the afternoon.
• The Blue Jays outshot the Wildcats 13-10, including a 6-4 edge in shots on goal.
• The GNAC Championship is the first in the history of the program.
• Picked up their first win against JWU, cutting the all-time series to 4-1-1.
• With the win, USJ advances to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.

UP NEXT 
The Blue Jays advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Selection show is set for Monday, November 7 at 1:30 p.m.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Alec Erskine, Emmanuel
Joey Soucy, Emmanuel
Jacob Rockwood, Saint Joseph's (ME)
Michael Wildes, Saint Joseph's (ME)
Jonathan Baker, JWU
Brian Miller, JWU
Alexander Pane, JWU
DeAnte Anderson, USJ
Matthew Goebel, USJ
Elijah Rodriguez, USJ
Elijah Rowland, USJ
Michael Torres, USJ (MVP)