Garden City, N.Y. - For the second time in the past three years, the Adelphi University men's soccer team is the Northeast-10 Conference champions.

The Brown and Gold (15-3-2), seeded second, defeated fourth-seeded Merrimack College, 2-0, in the league finals on Sunday afternoon on Motamed Field. The title is the Panthers' second since joining the league, as the team first won conference crown - also on home turf - in 2016.

Adelphi's Italian duo, Alessandro Corti and Paolo Marciano, were responsible for Adelphi's scoring in the contest, with senior All-Conference forward James Thristino assisting on both tallies.

Junior All-Conference back Corti broke a scoreless tie in the 22nd minute, as he knocked Thristino's blocked shot past Merrimack (13-6) keeper Tyler Packett for the early 1-0 lead. NE10 Rookie of the Year Marciano scored the insurance in the 86th, as he took a long first touch from Thristino up from midfield, and moved his way past Packett one-on-one for the score.

With the Panthers leading 1-0 in the 72nd minute, however, it was Mads Michaelsen who had perhaps the biggest play for the home team on the afternoon.

With Matt Apicella having come off his line and the Adelphi net open, the All-Rookie defender was there to clear out a head by Gianluca Arlotti and preserve the clean sheet.

Corti was named Most Outstanding Player for the championship tournament overall, as he anchored an Adelphi defense which recorded three shutouts in three games. 

Apicella and Patrick Guier joined him on the All-Tournament team, with the former making seven saves in the finals and 18 in the tournament overall.

With the victory, the Panthers earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Tournament field. Adelphi ranked fourth in the last edition of the East Region rankings, and the top six teams are guaranteed entry into the regional. The full field will be announced on Monday night on NCAA.com.

ALL-CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
Alessandro Corti, Adelphi (Most Outstanding Player)
Patrick Guier, Adelphi
Matt Apicella, Adelphi
Mirko Nufi, Merrimack
Tola Showunmi, Merrimack
Steven Hernandez, AIC
Daniel Milton, SNHU

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About Adelphi Athletics
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009, and in the past nine seasons, has collected 28 regular season conference titles, 30 tournament championships, 41 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup four times (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017), while winning six NCAA Division II National Championships.

For the latest on Adelphi University Athletics, follow the Panthers at www.aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.