Garden City, N.Y. - The Adelphi University men's soccer team continued its strong play of late with a 3-0 blanking of Southern Connecticut State University on Tuesday evening at Motamed Field.

The Panthers (4-3-1, 1-1 NE10) not only grabbed their first conference win of the 2023 season, but are also 4-1-1 in their last six games, following an 0-2 start.

A crucial mistake deep in SCSU's (2-5-1, 1-3 NE10) cost the Owls early in the contest.

Entering tonight's action with only one goal on the season, Victor Castel intercepted an errant pass -- resulting in a 1-v-1 with the keeper -- and finished into the vacant right side of the net to open the scoring fifteen minutes into the first half.

As Southern started to press in the second half, the Panthers did their job in the back to preserve the lead, highlighted by a superb effort in goal from Daniel De La Heras.

Meanwhile, Castel and Jesper Mikkelsen made Adelphi's lead more comfortable with a pair of goals in a six-minute span.

Off another giveaway in Adelphi's attacking half, Castel fired a left-footed strike past Southern Connecticut junior keeper Devin Juan in the 61st minute.

With the 'Cats controlling the pace throughout the match, Mikkelsen drew a penalty in the 67th minute and converted the subsequent attempt to stretch the hosts' lead to 3-0.

De La Heras led both keepers with four saves for the Panthers, who outshot the Owls 14-11 on the night, with a 6-5 edge in shots on goal.

Head Coach Gary Book and his Adelphi squad will travel to Colchester, Vt. this weekend for an 11 a.m. kickoff at Saint Michael's College on Saturday (Sept. 30).