Balanced Offense Lifts Men's Soccer Past Anna Maria, 8-0

• Senior forward Benjamin Marchetti (Higganum, Conn.) wasted little time trying to net game's opening goal. In the 4th minute, he received a perfect through ball from senior midfielder Elijah Rowland (Hartford, Conn.), but Marchetti's effort was denied by a kick save from ANM's graduate student goalkeeper Valter Santiago (Norwood, Mass.) 

• USJ continued to pile on the pressure, finding the opener in the 22nd minute. Marchetti darted down the left flank, working his way into the box. The forward tried his luck, rifling a shot that was saved by Santiago, but junior forward Brian Silva (Naugatuck, Conn.) was in the right place at the right time, as the rebound fell to him before slotting the ball into an empty net, taking a 1-0 lead for the Blue Jays. 

• The Blue Jays worked an excellent opportunity in the 25th minute, as junior forward Dane Stephens won the ball in the midfield, sending the ball into Marchetti inside the box. Marchetti brilliantly brushed past the outrushing Santiago, who brought the USJ forward down, earning the Blue Jays a penalty. Marchetti stepped up to take the spot kick, keeping his cool sending Santiago the wrong way to extend the lead to 2-0. 

• USJ added a third late in the first half, scoring in the 42nd minute. Graduate student forward DeAnte Anderson (Bloomfield Conn.) whipped in a cross that was fumbled by Santiago. Senior forward Daniel Castro (Willimantic, Conn.) collected the loose ball, walking it into the empty net to extend the gap to 3-0. 

• The Blue Jays added one more in the first half, finding the back of the net with 13 seconds remaining in the half. Senior midfielder Michael Torres (Hartford, Conn.) regained possession in the center circle, finding Anderson outside of the box. Anderson then played a perfect pass to junior midfielder Juan Torres (Hartford, Conn.), who slid the ball past Santiago, giving USJ a 4-0 lead heading into the halftime break. 

• USJ took little time finding their fifth in the second half, scoring in the 50th minute. Stephens played a sweet back heel into the darting path of senior forward Mergim Kutllovci (Thomaston, Conn.) who slid the ball between Santiago's legs, increasing the gap to 5-0. 

• Stephens would turn from provider into goal scorer in the 65th minute. Senior midfielder Charles Mputu (East Hartford, Conn.) played the ball to Stephens, who ripped a strike from 25 yards out, finding the upper corner and extending the gap to 6-0. Kutllovci netted USJ's seventh one minute later, bobbing and weaving his way past ANM defenders, slotting the ball past Santiago to increase the advantage to 7-0. 

• USJ added one more goal on the night in the 83rd minute as senior midfielder Valdet Nuredini (Watertown, Conn.) played through senior midfielder Joel Agbetossou (Hartford, Conn.), whose shot found the bottom left corner, increasing the lead to 8-0. The Blue Jays continued to play outstanding defense keeping ANM off the board for the commanding 8-0 victory. 

QUOTABLE 

"It was a strong squad performance tonight. We created many quality opportunities and scored some excellent goals. Defensively, we achieved another shutout, due in large part to some excellent goalkeeping in the second half," said head coach Paul Wright. 

NOTES 

• The seven different goal scorers are the most in a single game for the Blue Jays this season. 

• The eight goals match the most in a game for USJ this season, as the Blue Jays found the back of the net eight times against Elms on September 10. 

• Junior goalkeeper Jose Miguel Garcia Martin (Madrid, Spain) earned the start, picking up the win and improving his record to 6-3-2. 

• Senior goalkeeper Matthew Goebel (Norton, Mass.) played the entire second half, recording two saves to help preserve the shutout. 

• The Blue Jays dominated in shots, 27-5, including a 17-2 edge in shots on goal. USJ also had the advantage in corner kicks, 10-1. 

• The shutout was the ninth of the year for USJ, and their second in a row. 

• USJ extended its winning streak against the AMCATS to four games, taking a 4-0 lead in the all-time series. 

UP NEXT 

The Blue Jays, who earned the No. 4 seed in the upcoming GNAC playoffs, host intrastate and conference rival Albertus Magnus in the GNAC Quarterfinals on Saturday, October 29. Kickoff against the No. 5 seeded Falcons is set for 6:00 p.m. on the USJ Soccer Field in West Hartford, Conn. 

FOLLOW
For the latest on University of Saint Joseph Athletics, follow the Blue Jays on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Fans can also download the USJ Front Row Mobile App and subscribe to our Newsletter and Text Alerts. #FearTheFlock #GoBlueJays