SCHENECTADY, NY – A pair of first-half goals propelled the St. Lawrence University men's soccer team to a 2-0 upset victory over 6th-ranked Union College Friday afternoon in Liberty League action at College Park Field. The Saints won their fourth straight game and improve to 6-1-2 overall and 3-0 in Liberty League play. The Dutchmen drop to 8-2 overall and 2-1 in the league.
St. Lawrence got on the board in the 17
th minute when junior
Ryan Moore (Keene, NH) sent in a long shot from 30 yards out that crossed just out of reach of Union netminder
Rob Kramer (Westport, CT) and into the extreme upper left of the net. The tally marked the first on the season for Moore.
The Saints took a 2-0 lead in the 33rd minute on a Union own goal. A defender played the ball high in the air back to the keeper, but the ball sailed just under the crossbar.
The Dutchmen peppered St. Lawrence goaltender Emilio Coletta (Montreal, QC) with seven shots in the first half, but Coletta kept Union off the board.
In the 20
th minute,
Ryan Banagan (Albany, NY) accepted a pass from
Tripp Pietrak (Amherst, NY) just inside the box, but Coletta trapped Banagan's shot as he fell to the ground.
In the 27
th minute,
Jon Bellock (Manchester, CT) shot at the near post after a long service from
Dane Mellon (Clifton Park, NY), but directed his laser into Coletta's hands.
Union continued its offensive barrage into the second frame, but could not solve Coletta. In the 53
rd minute, the Dutchmen set up a solid play starting with a free kick by sophomore
Paul Angelo (Albany, NY) just outside the box on the right.
Chris Poey (Amherst, MA) got his head on Angelo's service at the far post, and deflected it back across to Mellon, whose header just missed at the near post.
In the 69
th minute,
Jack Scott (Huntington, NY) fired from close range, only to have his bullet careen off Coletta. Pietrak was there for the high rebound, but his header missed at the near post.
Coletta made eight saves in his fourth shutout of the season, while Kramer finished with two saves in the loss.
The Dutchmen held a 19-7 shot advantage in the contest, while the Saints were whistled for 17 fouls to Union's seven. St. Lawrence also collected three yellow cards to the Dutchmen's one.
Union continues Liberty League play tomorrow against Clarkson in a 2 p.m. game at College Park Field. St. Lawrence travels to Skidmore for a 2 p.m. contest.
