Three-Goal Second Half Lifts Men's Soccer Over Emmanuel Saturday, 5-2

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's soccer team utilized a three-goal second half to comeback and defeating visiting Emmanuel College (Emmanuel) in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play Saturday afternoon on the USJ Soccer Field in West Hartford, Conn. With the result, the Blue Jays move to 8-0-1 overall and 6-0-1 in conference play while the Saints drop to 1-7-1 and 1-6-1 in the GNAC.

KEY MOMENTS 

• Emmanuel started the game strong, testing USJ junior netminder El Hadji Anne (Bronx, N.Y.), but the keeper would make two fine stops to keep the game scoreless inside the opening 15 minutes.
• However, the Saints would grab the lead at the 24:40 mark, as Guilherme Silva got on the end of a loose ball in the air, heading a shot into an empty net to give Emmanuel the 1-0 lead.
• The lead wouldn't last long as USJ answered back immediately less than a minute later, as graduate student midfielder Michael Torres (Hartford, Conn.) played a back heeled cut back pass to the streaking senior forward Dane Stephens (Linstead, Jamaica) who slotted his shot past the Emmanuel keeper to tie the game at 1-1.
• The Saints reestablished a 2-1 lead at the 33:06 mark, as Riley Rebello spun away from his defender before curling his shot into the left side of the net.
• USJ again quickly answered back, as Torres slipped a through ball into the path of senior forward Henry McGarrah V (Hartford, Conn.), who perfectly placed his shot into the bottom left corner from the right side of the six-yard back, tying the match at 2-2 at the 39:53 mark.
• The Blue Jays had a great chance at the end of the half to take the lead, winning a free kick right on the edge of the box, but sophomore forward Emmanuel Ofori (East Hartford, Conn.) had his shot tipped over the bar by the Emmanuel keeper, preserving the 2-2 score entering halftime.
• USJ wasted little time in the second life, taking the lead in the 51^st minute as Ofori won the ball off the Emmanuel goalkeeper, before slotting the ball into an empty net to establish a 3-2 edge.
• The Blue Jays continued to pile on the pressure and added a fourth after senior midfielder Juan Torres (Hartford, Conn.) weaved his way through the Saints defense on the right flank before laying off the ball to Ofori, who turned and fired his shot into the goal, increasing the lead to 4-2 at the 74:11 mark.
• USJ put the game to rest in the 85^th minute, as the Blue Jays were awarded a penalty kick. Michael Torres would step up, and used a Panenka to fool the Saints goalkeeper, sealing the victory for USJ, 5-2.

NOTES 

• Ofori netted his sixth and seventh goals of the year, while Torres and Stephens scored their sixth and McGarrah V netted his fourth.
• Michael Torres dished out his sixth and seventh assists while Juan Torres recorded his third assist of the year.
• Anne made two saves to pick up the win and move to 7-0-1 in-between the posts on the year.
• USJ dominated Emmanuel in shots, recording a 23-11 advantage.
• With the result, the Blue Jays extended its lead in the all-time series to 3-0-2.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays continue a four-game homestand with a 2022 GNAC title game rematch against Johnson & Wales University on Tuesday, October 3. Kickoff against the Wildcats on the USJ Soccer Field is set for 4:00 p.m.

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