Men's Soccer Falls to JWU in GNAC Semifinals, 1-0

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The third-seeded University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's soccer team saw their 2023 season come to a close, battling hard but falling to second-seeded Johnson & Wales University (JWU), 1-0, Tuesday night on the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex in Providence, R.I., during the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Semifinals. With the result, the Blue Jays conclude the 2023 campaign at 13-2-3.

KEY MOMENTS 

• After a back-and-forth start that saw both teams battle for control of the game, senior midfielder Juan Torres (Hartford, Conn.) unleashed the game's first real scoring chance, seeing his shot miss just wide right of the goal at the 10:47 mark.
• The Blue Jays nearly opened up the scoring again at the 26:56 mark, as senior forward Dane Stephens (Linstead, Jamaica) unleashed a perfectly timed through ball to sophomore forward Emmanuel Ofori (East Hartford, Conn.), but Ofori's effort also nearly missed wide right to keep the game scoreless.
• Ofori again nearly found the back of the net with 9:15 left to play in the half, launching a free kick from roughly 25 yards out that rattled off the right post, keeping the score deadlocked at 0-0.
• USJ would have one last chance in the closing seconds, as Ofori stood over another free kick in a dangerous position, but his shot again missed wide right, keeping the game scoreless entering the halftime break.
• JWU nearly grabbed the lead right at the beginning of the second half, as a long throw found the foot of Jonathan Baker, but his close-range effort sailed high at the 52:11 mark.
• The Wildcats continued to pressure the Blue Jays, finding the games opening goal as Mikael Wallace-Boahin whipped in a cross Carlos Andrade, who headed the ball into the goal, giving JWU a 1-0 lead at the 65:30 mark.
• Freshman midfielder Matthew Dima (Oxford, Conn.) nearly equalized for the Blue Jays from a free kick at the 82:40 mark, but his strike rifled off the left post, preserving the 1-0 JWU lead.
• The Blue Jays continued to push for the equalizer, but the Wildcats defense stood firm, denying USJ to secure a 1-0 victory.

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