Men's Soccer Claims First GNAC Championship

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

GAME INFORMATION 
Score: #4 USJ 2, #2 JWU 1
Records: USJ (13-3-3), JWU (15-2-3) 
Location: Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex (Providence, R.I.)
Notes: GNAC Championship

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 piled 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 11th minute.
• The Wildcats' offense would ultimately break through USJ's defense, taking the lead in the 26th 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 early 1-0 lead.
• Graduate student Jared Galarza (Newington, Conn.) looked to quickly equalize in the 28th minute, but Friedman came up with the save to preserve the lead.
• The remainder of the second half went quiet as neither offense generated a goal scoring opportunity, until USJ looked to tie the game heading into the halftime break. Galarza saw his initial shot blocked, with the rebound falling to Brian Silva (Naugatuck, Conn.) on the left flank. Silva ripped a shot, but his effort missed just wide left as JWU went into the halftime intermission up, 1-0.
• USJ came out on fire in the second half, dominating the run of play. In the 49th minute, senior forward Mergim Kutllovci (Thomaston, Conn.) beautifully 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 senior forward Benjamin Marchetti (Higganum, Conn.) forced a fine save from Friedman in the 50th minute, before DeAnte Anderson (Bloomfield, Conn.) missed just high with a shot in the 51st minute.
• USJ continued to dominate offensively in the second half and was rewarded with an equalizing goal in the 59th minute. Junior forward 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 74th 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 78th minute. Torres got on the end of a loose ball inside the box and rifled a shot that hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced over the line to give the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead.
• The USJ defense continued to stand tall in the second half, denying JWU from finding an equalizer, as the Blue Jays completed their comeback, defeating JWU, 2-1, and winning its first GNAC title in program history.

QUOTABLE 

"I'm so proud of this team and what we've accomplished this season. Words simply 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's 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 Dr. Rhona Free, who was instrumental in our transition to coeducation and her belief in athletics, our admissions team and their efforts and support, our Director of Athletics 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. Lastly, a special shoutout and thank you to 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 11th 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.
• The Blue Jays 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.

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