NASHUA, N.H. - #15/17 Saint Joseph's College (6-0, 2-0 GNAC) cruised past Rivier University (0-4, 0-2 GNAC), 7-0, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's soccer contest on Wednesday night. Junior Cody Elliott (Gorham, Maine) and freshman Austin Ward (North Andover, Mass.) netted a pair of goals apiece in the one-sided triumph.
THE LEAD
The Monks had numerous scoring chances early and grabbed a quick 2-0 lead with a pair of strikes in a matter of 43 seconds, as senior midfielder Rory Twomey (South Windsor, Conn.) and Ward hit pay dirt at the 26:35 and 27:18 marks, respectively.
Ward tacked on his second goal at 40:04 mark and Elliott scored his first of the year on a free kick just 54 seconds later to make it a 4-0 game in favor of the Monks. Senior Mitchell Cyr (Rochester, N.H.) added his first tally of the season as time expired in the first half.
The Monks tacked on a pair of strikes early in the second frame to account for the 7-0 final score, as senior Brett Mattos (Mahopac, N.Y.) made it a 6-0 game at the 46:34 mark and Elliott wrapped up his first collegiate brace off a Colin Grant (Harvard, Mass.) feed in the 49th minute.
THE KEEPERS
The Monks split time in goal with senior Blake Mullen (Manchester, Conn.) getting the start and sophomore David Walbridge (Hampden, Mass.) logging 45 minutes of untested play apiece.
Rivier starter Collin Deyarmin faced 13 shots and allowed seven goals in 64:52 minutes and Cody Richards did not face an attempt in 25:08 minutes of relief.
TEAM STATS
Saint Joseph's outshot Rivier by a 30-1 margin with a 13-0 lead in shots on goal and an 8-0 advantage in corner kicks in the conference contest.
NOTEWORTHY
- Elliott, Jackson Taylor (Gorham, Maine), Jacob Rockwood (Hopkinton, N.H.), and Jason Umbehr (Wallingford, Conn.) were also credited with assists for the Monks
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
With the win, Saint Joseph's improves to 11-2-1 in the history of the series with Rivier University and has now defeated the Raiders in 11-consecutive meetings dating back to the 2008 season. The Monks have outscored the Raiders by a 44-2 margin during this span and have not allowed a goal to Rivier since the 2012 campaign.
NEXT!
Saint Joseph's is back in action Saturday with a 1:00 PM home conference game versus Johnson & Wales University.
