Box Score
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Junior
Victor Hernandez (Rye Brook, N.Y.), sophomore
Jeremy Tavares (Waterbury, Conn.) and sophomore
Paul Templeton (Saltcoats, Scotland) each tallied goals, as the Southern Connecticut State University men's soccer team knocked off Saint Anselm, 3-1 on Wednesday night at Jess Dow Field. The Owls collected their first Northeast-10 Conference win of the season and improved to 2-1, 1-0. The Hawks dropped to 0-1, 0-1 in the league.
Early on, the two teams battled back and forth in an evenly matched game. However, half way through the period the Owls began to take control. Their first chance came in the 28th minute when senior
Marino Crocco (North Haven, Conn.) received a through ball from the midfield. He took a few touches towards goal, but unfortunately his shot was deflected wide of the mark.
Southern continued to pressure the backline and finally opened the scoring in the 41st minute. Hernandez forced an error in the backfield and proceeded to lace a shot from just outside the 18-yard box into the top left corner of the net. Hernandez's second goal of the season gave the Owls a 1-0 advantage heading into intermission.
SCSU's offense wasted very little time in the second half. Combination play between Hernandez and freshman
Seth Ragaini (Seymour, Conn.) created the Owls second goal. Tavares collected the third and final pass of the build-up and buried his first goal of the season for a 2-0 lead.
Team captain Paul Templeton would put the game out of reach with his first goal of the season in the 71st minute. Ragaini placed a perfect ball through the Hawks defense where a composed Templeton slipped a shot to the far post for a 3-0 advantage.
Saint Anselm added a goal of its own, however the Owls would hold on for a 3-1 victory. Sophomore
Andrew Esposito (East Haven, Conn.) made a four saves in his first conference win of the season. John Corridan stopped one shot for the visiting Hawks.
The Owls return to action on Sept. 5 when the team plays host to C.W. Post. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
