New Haven, Conn. – The Albertus Magnus College men's soccer team dropped its regular-season Great Northeast Athletic (GNAC) finale, 1-0, to Johnson & Wales on Saturday afternoon under the lights at Celentano Field during the College's annual Fall Fest.
With the loss, the Falcons moved to 9-7 overall and 4-5 in league play, while the Wildcats improve to 13-4 on the year and 8-1 in conference tilts. Following the contest, both teams learned their post-season fates, as Albertus will enter the GNAC Tournament as the No. 6 seed and JWU earned the top-seed in the eight-team tournament. During the opening round, the Falcons travel to face Saint Joseph's (Me.), while the Wildcats host eighth-seeded Suffolk.
The difference in the game was senior midfielder Doug Kase's second half strike. In the 55th minute, Kase finished a cross from freshman midfielder Byron Arboleda. The marker was his fourth of the season and quieted the home crowd.
The Falcons would respond with several scoring chances throughout the remainder of regulation, but Wildcat senior goalkeeper Nick Tolman stood his ground to earn the shutout.
Two minutes after Kase opened the scoring, the visitors threatened again with a pair of uncontested shots in front of Albertus sophomore goalkeeper Griffin Volta (Orange, Conn.). Volta turned aside Arboleda's blast from the penalty area and the rebound was sailed over the crossbar by Arboleda.
In the 60th minute, it looked as though the Falcons knotted the game at one before the call was waived off by the referee. Off a corner from by junior Alex Zapata (Hamden, Conn.), sophomore Justyn Broderick (Orange, Conn.) connected on a header that slipped through Tolman's hands and crossed the goal line. The referee called the goal off, saying that Tolman possessed the ball and was ran into before losing possesion.
The header was the final true scoring threat for the hosts, as another header by Broderick off a cross sailed wide later in the frame.
Down the stretch, the Falcons were unable to break through as the Wildcat backline held their ground and controlled possession.
Between the pipes, Volta made three saves in a losing effort for Albertus Magnus. On the opposite end, Tolman turned aside five shots to register a clean sheet.
The Falcons held a slight, 14-13, advantage in shots and took five corners compared to four by the visitors.
Albertus Magnus returns to action on Tuesday, October 27, with its regular season home finale versus MCLA.
