Sept. 23, 2009

Box Score

Fairfield, CT - The Adelphi University men's soccer team traveled to Fairfield, Connecticut on Wednesday, September 23 to take on Sacred Heart University in a non-conference contest. After a scoreless first half, Adelphi scored three goals in 12 minutes in the second frame to pick up a 3-0 win. With the victory the Panthers improve to 4-1-2 overall, while the Pioneers even their record at 2-2.

Adelphi controlled the pace of the game early earning three corner kicks in the first ten minutes, and seven total in the first period. The first shot on goal of the contest came fifteen minutes in as Adelphi's Issa Tall ripped a shot that SHU goalkeeper Alex Fait deflected over the crossbar.

Sacred Heart had its best scoring chance of the half as Sergio Freitas' shot from just inside the penalty box was blocked by a Panther defender. Adelphi almost pulled ahead with 7:30 to play in the half as Alexander Kouznetsov stung a low shot from 25 yards out that forced Fait to make a diving save. Koutnetsov was stopped again by Fait three minutes later on a free kick from just outside the penalty box to keep the game scoreless going into the intermission.

The Pioneers came out strong in the second half and nearly notched the opening goal just 1:45 into the second stanza. Brian Francolini had a shot from close range but, Adelphi's Thorne Holder turned the attempt aside. Adelphi would break through in the 59th minute to take a 1-0 lead on a goal from Michael Aquino who blasted a shot into the left side of the net after a crossing pass from Tall.

The Panthers nearly added another tally on a header from Ryan Vulin after a corner kick but Jesper Fredriksson made the defensive save to keep the score at 1-0. From there Adelphi kept the pressure on and a foul would get the Pioneers in trouble again as Adelphi was awarded a penalty kick with 20 minutes to play. Tall put the ball over Fait's right shoulder and into the back of the net for his first marker of the day.

Less then a minute later Tall struck again, streaking down the left side and firing the ball into the lower right corner of the Pioneer net, extending the Panther lead to 3-0. Holder would keep the Pioneers off the board the rest of the contest, making three total saves and earning his second shutout of the season.

Adelphi returns to action on Saturday, September 26 when they travel to Stony Brook, New York for a 7:00 pm game with the Seawolves.