BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England tallied a goal in each half on the way to a 2-0 win over Saint Joseph's College (Maine) in non-conference men's soccer action Wednesday evening (Sep. 17) at Barbara J. Hazard Field.
The Nor'easters improve to 3-1-1 overall with the decision, and now holds a 7-2-2 advantage in the all-time series with SJC. The Monks drop to 1-8-0 on the year.
The Nor'easters moved in front on an 8th-minute score from first-year Darius Ntacyo (Saco, Maine), with assists going to juniors Tyler Garnick (Derry, N.H.) and Ryan Rousseau (Brunswick, Maine). Rousseau gained an edge of his defender down in the right corner and sent a low cross into the middle. Garnick redirected the ball at the near post with a flick-header and Ntacyo put a one-timed blast out of mid-air into the left side of the net.
The margin remained at the half, as UNE senior keeper Aidan McParland (Brockville, Ontario) stretched out to stop a dipping 25-yard free kick targeting the left corner in the 43rd minute.
McParland made another key save in the 63rd minute with a sliding close-out just as a shot was taken outside the right edge of the 6-yard box. He finished the night with four saves.
Big Blue added to its lead in the 77th minute, when Garnick converted a feed from the right side sent through the box. In the sequence, Garnick took an initial shot from the left side that forced a diving stop from SJC junior Scott Benner (Post Falls, Idaho). The rebound fell to UNE senior Scott Mitchell (Stoughton, Mass.), who put a pass right back into the middle between a defender and the goalie.
Benner posted five saves in 81 minutes for the Monks, who travel to Anna Maria College on Saturday (2 p.m.).
The Nor'easters, who ended with an 18-10 cushion in shots, host Gordon College the same afternoon (2:30 p.m.).
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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.