WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The seventh-seeded Saint Michael's College men's soccer team lost to No. 2 University of New Haven, 3-1, on Saturday during a Northeast-10 Conference Championship first-round game in Kathy Zolad Stadium. The Chargers were 11th in the latest NCAA Super-Region 1 rankings.
Â
RECORDS
- Saint Michael's (9-8-1), New Haven (11-3-3)
SAINT MICHAEL'S LEADERS
OPPONENT LEADERS
- Senior Sandro Branquinho, 1 goal
- Senior Pau Santanach, 1 goal
- First-year Darsein Gabriel, 1 goal
- Graduate student Archie Watts, 4 saves
GAME FACTS
- In his debut season as a Purple Knight, Smith had eight wins, good for a tie for fifth in program history, while his six shutouts are tied for sixth place. Smith's 1.08 goals-against average was the lowest by a Saint Michael's keeper since Jason Burnett '10 in 2009 (0.89).
- The Purple Knights competed in the NE10 Championship for the first time since 2015.
- The teams met in the postseason for the first time.
- The Chargers extended their unbeaten streak to nine games (7-0-2).
- New Haven improved to 6-1-2 at home this season, with its only loss coming by a 1-0 count to Saint Michael's on Sept. 21.
THE ACTION
- In the 43rd minute, Smith stretched to cover a cross through the box under pressure from a Charger, who pried the ball loose. Gabriel pounced on the rebound for the go-ahead goal.
- Riby-Williams' solo effort led to the tying goal in the 60th minute, as he worked his way through five Chargers near the edge of the box before burying a left-footed bid into the lower right corner.
- New Haven took the lead for good in the 66th minute, as Branquinho's cross deflected off of a Purple Knight and past a rushing Smith.
- Santanach one-touched home a shot under the crossbar in the 73rd minute to provide the Chargers breathing room.
