Purple Knights tally 28 shots in 4-0 victory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Tony Bonvechio - Phone: (802) 654-2929

Box Score: http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/msoc/2010-11/files/mjscstm.htm

COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Saint Michael's College men's soccer team opened the season with a 4-0 win over Johnson State College at Duffy Field on Thursday. The Purple Knights (1-0) racked up 28 shots (13 on goal) and prevented Johnson (0-1) from taking a single shot in the shutout. Twenty-three players saw the field for Saint Michael's in the non-conference contest.

Senior Rob Pierce (Charlotte, Vt./Champlain Valley Union (Westminster School)) opened the scoring with a 10-yard blast from classmate Ryan Gannon (Colchester, Conn./Central Conn. St.). Just 18 seconds later, Omar Khartabil (Hampstead, N.H./Pinkerton Academy (Bridgton Academy)) took a point-blank shot that Johnson keeper Sam Martin (Essex, Vt.) deflected off a teammate and into the net for an own goal.

Senior Blake Schill (Essex Junction, Vt./Essex (Worcester Academy)) resumed the Saint Michael's attack in the second half, chasing a bouncing ball past an over-committed Martin and tapping it in for the Purple Knights' third goal. Freshman David Clough (Mount Vernon, Maine/Maranacook Community) buried a long header off a pass from sophomore Chris Eckels (Colchester, Conn./Bacon Academy) with four minutes remaining.

The Purple Knights' defense kept the Badger attack subdued throughout the game, as Johnson could not muster a shot against either Saint Michael's goalie. Martin stopped nine shots for the Badgers.

Saint Michael's travels to Dowling on Saturday for a 7 p.m. contest, and begin conference play at home against St. Rose on Sep. 7 at 4 p.m.

GAME SUMMARY
Johnson State               0          0          - 0
Saint Michael's              2          2          - 4

First Half: 1. STM, Pierce (Gannon), 14:20. 2. STM, Own Goal, 14:38.
Second Half: 3. STM, Schill (unassisted), 60:18. 4. STM, Clough (Eckels), 86:01.
Shots: JSC 0, STM 25.
Corner Kicks: JSC 0, STM 9.
Goalkeepers: JSC, Martin (90:00), 9 saves; STM, Kingman (65:02), 0 saves, Chapman (24:58), 0 saves.

-PURPLEKNIGHTS-