Women's Soccer Blanks Rhode Island College, 2-0

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's soccer team brought their A game against the Anchorwomen of Rhode Island College (RIC) Wednesday evening, securing a 2-0, non-conference victory to make it two-straight dubs to start the 2021 season.

For the second straight contest, it was a freshman who got the scoring going for the Blue Jays, as freshman forward Kelsi Ursini (Groton, Conn.) scored her first career goal off a well-played ball by junior forward Maxine Muscatello (Berlin, Conn.) after stealing the ball from an Anchorwoman defender in RIC's defensive end. Ursini finished with a strike into the lower right corner of the cage for what would stand as the game-winner in the 38th minute and put USJ up 1-0 at the time. The Blue Jays' lockdown defense was in full effect Wednesday once again, shutting out the Anchorwomen for a full 90 minutes, as USJ has now registered two clean sheets in as many games. Muscatello put the exclamation point on an ideal night with a game-clinching score from 15 yards out in the 85th minute off a beautiful feed from sophomore midfielder Marisa Brough (Cheshire, Conn.).

GAME INFORMATION
Score:  Saint Joseph 2, Rhode Island College 0
Records: USJ (2-0), RIC (0-4)
Location: Alumni Field | Providence, R.I.

COACH QUOTE [Jenna Kalwa]
"It was a battle, but the team controlled what it could control. Several players stepped up big time. Congrats to Kelsi Ursini on her first career collegiate goal, and Maxine Muscatello for earning her first of the season. Our defense earned another shutout, with a strong performance out of Jenna Banta and our goalkeeper tonight, Victoria Schaffner, who made her first official collegiate start."

GAME NOTES

• Fourth straight season USJ has opened up with back-to-back wins.
• The Blue Jays outshot the Anchorwomen, 18-15, and held a crucial 8-2 edge in corner kicks.
• First-ever meeting between the two teams.
• The Anchorwomen have been shutout in three straight contests, being outscored 13-0.

NUMBER TO KNOW

180 – 180 straight minutes of shutout soccer for the Blue Jays. They are the only team in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) to allow 0 goals so far this season.

GOALIE BREAKDOWN

USJ – Sophomore Victoria Schaffner (Waterbury, Conn.) picked up her first career win (1-0) in her first official career game played in decisive fashion, allowing no goals and making five saves.  

RIC – Freshman goalie Reagan Kerecz (Tolland, Conn.) put the work in on Wednesday despite the loss (0-4), picking up seven saves in a full 90 minutes of action, in addition to the two goals allowed.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays conclude their three-game road trip to start the season with their first GNAC match of 2021, a visit to Anna Maria College on Saturday, September 11. Kickoff is expected for 7:00 p.m.

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