Men's Soccer Holds Off Regis, Extends Winning Streak to Five

WESTON, Mass. The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's soccer team outlasted Regis College (Regis), 3-2, Saturday afternoon during a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest at Regis Stadium in Weston, Mass. The victory increased the Blue Jays' winning streak to five games, and it's unbeaten run to six games. With the result, the Blue Jays move to 5-3-1 on the year and 4-0-1 in GNAC play, while the Pride drop to 3-5-1 overall and 3-4-0 in the conference.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• The Blue Jays controlled the opening portion of the game, forcing multiple stops out of Regis goalkeeper Chris Alcon (Weston, Fla.).
• USJ were rewarded for their efforts at the 26:29 mark, as junior defender Eduardo Chavez-Baez (Norwalk, Conn.) raced down the right side of the field, feeding a crossing pass into the box, where freshman forward Damir Cirikovic (Southington, Conn.) met the ball and found the back of the net, establishing a 1-0 USJ lead.
• Twenty seconds later, freshman midfielder Landon Coelho (Naugatuck, Conn.) intercepted a clearance attempt from the Pride, before taking a touch and rifling a shot from 30 yards out into the top left corner, increasing the gap to 2-0.
• Regis would battle back though, cutting the deficit to 2-1 after Haroun Mafhoum (Bellingham, Mass.) scored with 40:31 on the clock, sending the Pride into the halftime break trailing.
• The Blue Jays received an insurance goal at the 63:30 mark in the second half, as Coelho whipped in a perfect cross from a corner kick, finding senior forward Dane Stephens (Linstead, Jamaica) who fired the ball into the net, breaking open a 3-1 USJ edge.
• The Pride again answered back, as Nolan McMahon (White River Junction, Vt.) cut the advantage back to one, 3-2, with a goal at the 75:08 mark.
• However, the USJ defense would stand strong in the closing 15 minutes of play, preventing the hosts from finding an equalizing strike, to hold on for a 3-2 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Coelho netted his first career goal.
• he also dished out his team-leading third assist of the year.
• Cirikovic scored his third goal, while Stephens netted his team-leading fifth strike of the season.
• Freshman netminder Will Slayton (Manchester, Conn.) played all 90 minutes in goal for USJ, picking up the win (3-1-1) after recording two saves.
• The Blue Jays held a significant advantage in shots, outshooting the Pride 19-13.
• USJ also had the edge in corner kicks, 5-2.
• With the win, the Blue Jays remain perfect against the Pride, extending its lead in the all-time series to 6-0-0.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays head back on the road for a quick two-game road trip, starting with a stop at Regis College on Saturday, September 28. Opening kickoff against the Pride at Regis Stadium in Weston, Mass., is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

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