SAINTS END SKID WITH 4-1 WIN OVER RAIDERS

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College Men's Soccer Team earned a much-needed victory on Tuesday night, defeating the Raiders of Rivier University, 4-1. The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) game was played under the lights on Roberto Clemente Field and the win was the first for the Saints since Emmanuel's opening game of the year.  The Saints improved to 2-5-2 overall and 1-3 in the league, while Rivier dropped to 0-6-1 on the season and 0-3-1 in GNAC play with the loss.

The Saints netted two goals in the opening frame and two more in the second half, taking a 4-0 lead, before Rivier would find the scoreboard with under two minutes to play in the game.

Despite having numerous starters sidelined with injuries, the first half featured the Saints out-shooting the Raiders, 17-6.  Emmanuel's first goal of the night came at 12:10, when junior midfielder Danny Richman (Medfield, Mass.) received a nice feed on the break from senior Kevin Shirley (Madison, Conn.) and the Saints took a 1-0 lead.

Junior midfielder Bill Bernier (Strafford, Conn.) came off the bench later in the half to score his first goal of the season. A cross from Stefano Sainato (Albany, N.Y.) at 29:03 led to Bernier's strike from 30 yards out, which was drilled into the back of the net and Emmanuel led, 2-0.

Twenty minutes into the second stanza, the Saints would add to their tally.  A breakaway began by Richman in the midfield found a cutting Tyler Downing (Oxford, Mass.).  Downing then led James Carroll (Guilford, Conn.) down the right side and Carroll put a well-placed shot past Rivier keeper Matt St. Peter (Colchester, Vt.) to put the Saints up three.

One more Emmanuel marker would come in the 74th minute and both Richman and Downing had their feet in the action once again.  Richman's shot was deflected by St. Peter and Downing was there for the put-back, scoring his second career goal and giving Emmanuel a 4-0 cushion.

The Raiders, who entered the game having scored just two goals as a team, added to their season tally in the 89th minute of Tuesday night's game.  Sophomore midfielder Danny Connelly (Bedford, N.H.) scored off an assist from Ed Soucie (South Ryegate, Vt.) to get Rivier on the board late in the contest.
The Saints would finish the night having dominated the offensive action, out-shooting the Raiders, 39-8, and holding a 12-1 advantage in corner kick opportunities.

Sophomore goalkeeper Garrett Charette (West Springfield, Mass.) picked up the win for the Saints, stopping all three of his shots faced in 78 minutes of action.  Freshman keeper Hunter Schwoerke (Burlington, Conn.) spelled Charette for the final 12 minutes, allowing the one Rivier goal.

St. Peter took the loss for Riv, going the distance between the pipes and making 14 saves for the Raiders.

Emmanuel is back in action this Saturday, when the Saints travel to Standish, Maine to take on the Monks of Saint Joseph's College in a GNAC women's and men's soccer double-header.  The Emmanuel men will kick off at 2:30pm.  Rivier will play in a GNAC contest at Lasell College on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 PM.