BOSTON – Emmanuel men's soccer kept their unbeaten start to the 2025 season alive courtesy of a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon against the Rivier Raiders in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play from Clemente Field.
The Saints got on the board in the opening minutes, with sophomore Jacob Beck drawing a penalty inside the area. Senior Joe Anderson was tasked with taking the spot kick, which he fired into the bottom left corner, away from the diving Rivier goalie, to give Emmanuel a 1-0 lead.
Rivier responded with high pressure following the Saints goal, eventually breaking through in the 25th minute, to tie the match. The Raiders press in the Saints defensive third forced a turnover deep in the Emmanuel end. The resulting turnover found the feet of sophomore Matthews Ferreira, who one-touched a shot from 20 yards out, into a wide-open goal, tying the match at 1-1.
Offense was hard to come by in the second half with both sides only combining for three total shots, with just one being on frame. Raiders junior Andrew Lennox had the only shot on goal, coming in the 62nd minute, a slow roller on the Saints goal, easily handled by junior goalie Isaiah Etienne.
Anderson's eighth-minute tally is the second of the season for the senior and his first from the penalty spot this year. He's a perfect 5-for-5 in his career on PK attempts. Etienne made seven stops for the Saints in his first start of the 2025 campaign.
Ferreira netted his first of the season for the Raiders while junior goalie Logan Clough allowed a goal on the only shot he saw, as he moves to 0-2-3.
The Saints are still unbeaten through five games, moving to 1-0-4 this season. Emmanuel is back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 16, traveling to Fitchburg State for a 4:00 p.m. match. The Raiders are 0-2-3, five games into their year, as they look for their first win on Wednesday, Sept. 17, against Westfield State at 7:00 p.m
