New Haven, Conn. – The Albertus Magnus men's soccer team got back in the win column on Wednesday afternoon, defeating visiting Mitchell, 2-0, in non-conference action at Celentano Field. With the win, the Falcons improve to 5-2 on the year and 3-1 on their home turf. With the loss, the Mariners move to 2-4-1.

Albertus held a 21-6 advantage in shots and sophomore goalkeeper Griffin Volta (Orange, Conn.) registered his second blank sheet of the fall for the hosts. The matched marked the first time this year an Albertus game was decided by more than one goal.

Late in the first half, the Falcons threatened with a pair of hard-struck shots on goal. In a scoreless contest, Albertus junior midfielder Matt Mueller (Cheshire, Conn.) blasted a low ball through traffic from 10 yards outside the box that Mitchell sophomore goalkeeper Romer Ochoa (Uncasville, Conn.) caught on a knee in the 40th minute. Fifty seconds later, sophomore forward Matt Stoll (Shelton, Conn.) fired a shot from just outside the box that Ochoa punched over the net with a leaping effort.

With under a minute remaining in the opening stanza Albertus finally broke through as the Mariners were whistled for a foul 10 yards outside the box and the Falcons made them pay. Junior forward Alexis Garcia-Romero (West Haven, Conn.) bent the free kick around the Mitchell wall and finished past a diving Ochoa in the lower right corner to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Garcia-Romero's tally was his second of the season and the eventual game-winner.

In the second half, AMC stretched its lead to 2-0 thanks to a goal from junior midfielder Alex Zapata (Hamden, Conn.). In the 59th minute, Zapata was brought down just inside the box and he converted the ensuing penalty kick for his team-leading sixth marker of the autumn.

Later in the frame, Zapata created another scoring opportunity as he beat the defender marking him in the midfield and took a shot from 20 yards outside the box that clanked off the right post and rolled out of bounds.

Thanks to a strong game from the Falcon backline and midfield, the Mariners took zero shots on goal. Albertus controlled the tempo and possession for a majority of the contest.

In net, Volta faced no shots to earn his fifth win of the season and his seven career shutout for the Falcons. On the opposite end, Ochoa turned aside seven shots in a losing effort for Mitchell.

Albertus returns to action this Saturday, September 26 with a home conference clash with Rivier at 1:00 p.m.