Saints and Blue Jays Play to 0-0 Stalemate in GNAC Tilt

BOSTON, Mass. -Emmanuel College and the University of Saint Joseph (CT) battled to a 0-0 draw Wednesday evening in Great Northeast Athletic Conference men’s soccer action at Roberto Clemente Field.  

Saints and Blue Jays Play to 0-0 Stalemate in GNAC Tilt
Program Video Box Score

Team Stats

October 12, 2022

THE BASICS 
Emmanuel College, 0 – Univ. of Saint Joseph (CT), 0

Records: 
Emmanuel Saints (4-4-5, 2-3-3 GNAC)
USJ Blue Jays (8-2-2, 5-1-2 GNAC)

Location: Boston, Mass. – Clemente Field

Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2022

THE LEAD – Emmanuel College and the University of Saint Joseph (CT) battled to a 0-0 draw Wednesday evening in Great Northeast Athletic Conference men's soccer action at Roberto Clemente Field.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The Blue Jays owned a 5-2 advantage in shots in the opening half, forcing EC graduate student goalkeeper Vincent Conelli (West Hartford, Conn.) to make three saves in the stanza.
  • Both teams played well during respective spurts throughout the first 45 minutes as the Saints came out strong while USJ closed the half as the aggressor, each settling for the 0-0 halftime score despite feeling good about their performance.
  • After switching directions, the hosts kicked things into a new gear and controlled the action in their attacking third for much of the second half, outshooting the Blue Jays 7-6 in the frame with several quality chances.
  • In the 53rd minute, senior Alec Erskine (Coventry, Conn.) played a left-footed cross into a dangerous area in front of the goal that sophomore Joey Soucy (Attleboro, Mass.) connected on with a diving header to frame but it was right at USJ junior keeper Jose Miguel Garcia Martin (Madrid, Spain) to keep the goose eggs on the board.
  • Minutes late, senior midfielder Anthony Delacruz (East Hartford, Conn.) tested Conelli with a shot but was denied.
  • Emmanuel had the best look of the half with just under 20 minutes remaining when first year midfielder Noah Alves (Nassau, Bahamas) put a powerful header on frame past Garcia Martin but USJ senior back Michael Torres (Hartford, Conn.) headed it away from the goal line for the team save to thwart the scoring chance for EC.
  • Over the final four minutes of regulation, the Saints had three shots on frame that were turned away by Garcia Martin including one from close range by sophomore Pedro Andres Vasquez (Frisco, Texas) in the 89th minute.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

  • Both Conelli and Garcia Martin earn the shutout. Conelli made five saves in his fifth clean sheet of the year while Garcia Martin turned away seven shots for his third shutout this campaign.
  • In four career meetings, USJ controls the all-time series with a 2-0-2 record vs. EC with no match being decided by more than a goal.
  • Emmanuel extends its unbeaten stretch to five matches (2-0-3) and has now tied three straight for the first time since the 2017 season.
  • Erskine paced the Saints with a team-high three shots on the night while USJ forward Dane Stephens (Plainville, Conn.) matched that total with three attempts to lead the Blue Jays.

UP NEXT

Both teams return to action on Saturday, October 15 for more GNAC action. The Saints head to Weston, Mass. for a 1:00 PM contest at Regis College while USJ plays host to Norwich University at 6:00 PM in West Hartford, Conn.