Erskine Nets a Pair to Lift Men’s Soccer Past Rivier, 2-0

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Emmanuel College, 2; Rivier University, 0

Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (3-1, 1-0 GNAC)
Rivier University Raiders (0-1, 0-1 GNAC)

Location: Boston, Mass. – Roberto Clemente Field

Date: Saturday, September 11, 2021

THE LEAD – Junior midfielder Alec Erskine (Coventry, Conn.) scored two goals to power Emmanuel College past Rivier University, 2-0, Saturday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's soccer action at Roberto Clemente Field.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Erskine got the hosts on the board just 6:56 into the contest with his first goal of the season to give the Saints a 1-0 cushion. Senior midfielder Campbell Shealy (Lexington, S.C.) set him up with a quick give and go series at the top corner of the penalty area before Erskine bent in a left footed strike that would prove to be enough for the result.
• The Saints had several more good looks in the opening stanza including a direct kick from 28 yards out that Erskine hooked around the wall only to hit the outside netting of the goal, keeping the game tight at 1-0 heading into halftime despite EC outshooting Rivier by a 9-2 margin at the break.
• Emmanuel opened the second half quickly to double its lead as first year Joey Soucy (Attleboro, Mass.) played a long through ball up the right side of the pitch to a streaking Erskine. The junior settled the ball and chipped in his second goal of the action, sneaking the ball into the top right corner of the net to secure the 2-0 advantage at the 47:36 marker.
• The Raiders physical style of play limited the Saints from breaking things open as Rivier ended the afternoon with 18 fouls compared to nine for the hosts.
• The visitors best look on the day came with about 13 minutes remaining in regulation as senior forward Pedro Campos (Downey, Calif.) got time just inside the box for a right-footed zinger that EC senior keeper Vincent Conelli (West Hartford, Conn.) took care of to preserve his first shutout win of the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Conelli finished the day with three saves to improve to 2-0-0 since returning to the lineup while his counterpart, sophomore Dominic Cunha (Peabody, Mass.) made five saves in his collegiate debut including a penalty kick save.
• The two-goal outing for Erskine is the second of his career, as he also notched a brace in a 2-0 win over Fitchburg State University back on September 5, 2019.
• Emmanuel improves to 13-4-2 all-time vs. the Raiders and is now unbeaten in their last 11 matches (9-0-2) vs. Rivier.
• The win snaps a four-season drought for the Saints of going winless in their GNAC opener (0-2-2), making it the first "W" to open conference play since a 3-2 win over Saint Joseph's (ME) on September 12, 2015.

UP NEXT

• Emmanuel returns to GNAC action on Tuesday, September 14 when it travels to GNAC newcomer, Elms College, for a 7:00 PM kickoff in Chicopee, Mass.
• Rivier returns to the Greater Boston area on Wednesday, September 15 to take on Lasell University in Newton, Mass at 4:00 PM in more GNAC play.