NEW LONDON, N.H. – Grad student Austin Ward (Exeter, N.H.) broke the Monks' single-game records with five goals and 10 total points to help Saint Joseph's College (9-3-1, 8-1-0 GNAC) defeat Colby-Sawyer College (5-7-3, 2-4-2 GNAC), 9-1, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's soccer contest on Wednesday afternoon.

Ward broke the program's single-game marks previously held by his former teammate, Brett Mattos '19, who netted four goals for eight total points in a win over Suffolk University on September 30th, 2017.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Monks wasted no time getting on the board as Ward headed the ball into the upper right corner in the first minute of the match to give them to early 1-0 advantage. The Chargers capitalized on a free kick attempt in the 19th minute when first year Josh Warner (Barrington, N.H.) guided the ball to senior Finn Husband (Elk Rapids, Mich.), who netted the equalizer to tie the game at 1-1. 

Saint Joseph's responded minutes later with Ward finding the back of the net off an assist from Michael Wildes (Winthrop, Maine). The Monks continued to put pressure on the Chargers backline adding goals from Gracien Mukwa (Portland, Maine) and Ward in the span of five minutes to extend their lead 4-1 heading into halftime. 

Early in the second half, Ward recorded his fourth goal to put the Monks up 5-1. In the 56th minute, Rion Dos Santos (São Paulo, Brazil) slotted a pass to Gus Ford (Falmouth, Maine), who placed the ball past first year goalkeeper Yener Bartolon (West Palm Beach, Fla.) to make it 6-1 Monks. Ward would notch his fifth goal of the game off an assist from Mukwa to further Saint Joseph's lead 7-1.

First year goalkeeper Tobias Patterson replaced Bartolon in the 66th minute to make his first collegiate appearance as a Charger. The Monks continued to push their attack into Colby-Sawyer's defensive third of the field as Ethan Emata (Nashua, N.H.) tallied his first goal of the afternoon to further Saint Joseph's advantage to 8-1. A few minutes later, Joseph Perron (South Portland, Maine) found Emata who chipped the ball over Patterson to finish the match with a 9-1 final.

TEAM STATS:

Saint Joseph's outshot Colby-Sawyer by a 28-5 margin and held a 20-2 advantage in shots on goal in the victory. The Monks also posted a 5-1 lead in corner kicks.

THE KEEPERS:

Patterson earned one save and allowed two goals in his first collegiate appearance for the Chargers. Bartolon finished the match with 11 saves and allowed seven goals after playing 66 minutes in net.

The Monks split time in goal with senior Mike Sheridan (Folsom, Pa.) allowing a goal in 72+ minutes and sophomore Liam Foley (Middleton, Mass.) making on save in 17+ minutes of action.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

With the win, Saint Joseph's improves to 7-0-1 all-time versus Colby-Sawyer College and has now defeated the Chargers in seven-consecutive meetings.

NEXT!

Saint Joseph's will play at Lasell University on Saturday in a GNAC contest set for a 12:00 PM kick-off.

THANKS IN PART TO COLBY-SAWYER COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION