Sept. 18, 2010

Box Score

BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College Men's Soccer Team out-shot the visiting Raiders of Rivier College, 26-4, en route to a 2-0 win in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference match-up played at Roberto Clemente Field on Saturday afternoon. The Saints scored both goals in the first half to top the visiting Raiders. The shut-out win for Emmanuel boosted the Saints record to 3-4 on the year and 2-0 in conference play, while Rivier dropped to 0-6 overall and 0-2 in the GNAC.

The Saints seemed to overpower Rivier from the opening kick. Emmanuel freshmen Kevin Esposito (Gales Ferry, Conn.) and Allan Parrelli (Reading, Mass.) had three great looks in the opening five minutes of action, but could not convert. The Saints controlled the momentum and maintained solid possession offensively. Emmanuel found the scoreboard at 7:09, when Parrelli placed a beautiful corner kick into the box, which was headed into the back of the net by a leaping Kevin Shirley (Madison, Conn.). This was Shirley's third goal of the season and Emmanuel led 1-0.

The Saints carried the 1-0 lead throughout the first half, until the hosts tacked on one more goal before the break. Senior forward Jesse Tannetta (North Billerica, Mass.) beat two Rivier defenders on a breakaway and drilled a shot past Raider keeper John Jarvis (Henniker, N.H.) with just two minutes remaining in the half. Tannetta's first goal of the season gave Emmanuel a 2-0 cushion at halftime.

The Raiders took just two shots in the opening frame. Rivier's only corner kick was headed out by Emmanuel senior defender Patrick Sheldon (Saco, Me.). The Saints out-shot the Raiders, 13-2, in the first half. The second half was much of the same, with Emmanuel holding another 13-2 shot advantage over the Raiders.

The Saints had multiple scoring opportunities late in the game, including a breakaway by Shirley, who hit the crossbar with 22 minutes left to play. The Rivier defense stifled a Shirley/Parrelli breakaway with 15 minutes remaining. Jarvis continued his stellar play in net for Rivier, making several diving stops during the final ten minutes. Shirley's first-half goal held up as the game-winner and Emmanuel pulled out the 2-0 win.

Junior keeper Patrick Froass (Oneida, N.Y.) recorded the shut-out win for the Saints, making 3 saves in his 90 minutes of action. Jarvis took the loss for Rivier, but made 11 saves in a tremendous effort for the visitors. Emmanuel now leads the all-time series between these two programs, 5-4.

The Saints will play at home again on Wednesday, when Emmanuel hosts the Wildcats of Wheelock College in a non-conference match slated to begin at 7pm.