Men’s Soccer Finds Scoring Touch in 5-0 Win vs. Maine Maritime

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Emmanuel 5 – Maine Maritime 0

Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (1-0-1)
Maine Maritime Academy Mariners (1-1)

Location: Boston, Mass. – Clemente Field

Date: Saturday, September 3, 2022

THE LEAD – After being held to a scoreless draw in the 2022 season opener, the Saints men's soccer program found their stride offensively, scoring five times, including four times in the first half, as Emmanuel took down the Maine Maritime Academy Mariners, 5-0 on Saturday evening in non-conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Saints first goal of 2022 came from a familiar combination of sophomore Joey Soucy (Attleboro, Mass.) and senior Alec Erskine (Coventry, R.I.), a 17^th minute tally that gave EC a 1-0 lead.
• Soucy fought for a loose ball near the top of the Mariners penalty area. After winning a battle for the free ball, Soucy charged toward the near post and slid a pass across the face of goal to Erskine, who calmly finished into a wide-open net.
• Emmanuel doubled their lead in the 30^th minute with Erskine scoring directly off a free kick. The Saints drew a foul just 20 yards from goal at the top of the penalty area. Facing a four-person wall, Erskine fired a left-footed shot past the wall and into the left side netting, giving EC a 2-0 edge.
• Just minutes later, in the 33^rd, another Saints free kick helped EC add to their lead. A set piece from the midfield was directed on by Soucy and found senior Jack Minas (Uncasville, Conn.) just a few yards from goal. The senior midfielder notched his first goal of the season to give Emmanuel a 3-0 edge.
• The Saints added one more goal in the first half, coming just before the horn in the 44^th minute. A combination passing play between sophomores Richie Hickson (Woodstock, Conn.) and Owen Lindenmayer (Pawcatuck, Conn.) found first-year Liam Cook (Oakdale, Conn.) at the top of the penalty area. Cook curled a pinpoint shot into the top left corner of the Mariners goal, putting EC ahead 4-0.
• EC added a fifth goal in the second half courtesy of first-year Renato Martinez (Sao Paulo, Brazil), who finished with a header into the top right corner, thanks to a cross from first-year Fred Labossierre (Watertown, Mass.).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Erskine's two goals are his first and second of the season. He now stands at 25 goals, third all-time in program history and just three shy of matching Chris Clark '08, who sits at 28 career goals.
• Cook's 44^th minute goal and Martinez's 78^th minute tally are the first career collegiate goals for the pair of first-year Saints.
• The pair of assists for Soucy are his first points of the season and the first two assist game of his collegiate career.
• Graduate goalie Vincent Conelli (West Hartford, Conn.) played the first half and earned the victory to improve to 1-0-1 this season.
• Mariners senior Maxwell Tomlin (Monroe, Maine) played the first 45 minutes in goal for MMA, making five saves. The loss for Tomlin moves him to 0-1 this year.