STANDISH, Maine - #4 University of Saint Joseph (12-3-3) defeated #1 Saint Joseph's College (13-5-1), 2-0, in a hard-fought Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament Semifinal at the SJC Athletics Complex on Wednesday night.

PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS:

With the victory, USJ advances to the GNAC Championship game for the first time in the program's five-year history. The Blue Jays will play at #2 Johnson & Wales in the title match on Saturday, time TBD.

For Saint Joseph's, the loss brings an end to the 2022 campaign as the Monks will not play in the GNAC Championship for the first time since 2015.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Both teams had multiple scoring opportunities, but the Blue Jays netted the winning goal at the 79:11 mark when Elijah Rowland (Hartford, Conn.) delivered a perfect pass into the box to Benjamin Marchetti (Higganum, Conn.), who slipped a shot between the left post and SJC keeper Mike Sheridan (Folsom, Pa.).

USJ added an insurance goal with 1:12 remaining when Michael Torres (Hartford, Conn.) lifted a long shot into the net past Sheridan, who left his post to kick the bounding ball to midfield. The Blue Jays all but clinched the victory when Torres picked off the pass and made it a 2-0 game.

The Monks had several chances to tie the game, including a free kick from Alex Kosinski (East Lyme, Conn.) that clanged off the crossbar in the 84th minute, but ultimately could not capitalize.

TEAM STATS:

Saint Joseph's held the lead in shots (14-10) and shots on goal (7-5) while USJ posted a 2-1 edge in corner kicks on the evening.

THE KEEPERS:

Sheridan made three saves in the setback while Blue Jays netminder Matthew Goebel (Norton, Mass.) notched seven stops in the shutout performance.