New Haven, Conn. – The Albertus Magnus College men's soccer team erupted for a quartet of goals in a 4-0 shutout victory versus Suffolk on Wednesday evening under the lights at Celentano Field in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action. With their second straight home GNAC win, the Falcons improve to 9-6 on the year and 4-4 in conference play, while the loss drops the Rams to 1-14-1 overall and 1-6-1 in league tilts.
Junior midfielder Alex Zapata (Hamden, Conn.) led the offensive attack for Albertus Magnus, registering a season-high four points courtesy of a goal and two assists. Also finding the back of the net for the hosts in the conference contest were sophomores Justyn Broderick (Orange, Conn.) and Ritchy Jean Pierre (Fairfield, Conn.) as well as junior Matt Mueller (Cheshire, Conn.).
Broderick opened the scoring just under three minutes into regulation as a through ball from Zapata sent him in on a breakaway. With Suffolk senior Nicholas Chamma leaving his line in net, Broderick chipped the ball over the sliding keeper for the eventual game-winning tally.
Later in the first half, Jean Pierre gave the Falcons some breathing room with his second strike of the season. Freshman Kaj Djonne (Sandy Hook, Conn.) took a shot from just inside the box that was blocked and Jean Pierre collected the rebound and blasted one into lower left corner to give AMC a 2-0 edge in the 37th minute.
Zapata made it a three-goal game less than three minutes into the second half with his team-leading eighth marker of the autumn. Zapata dribbled down the left side of the field, beat the Ram defender marking him in the box and chipped the ball over Chamma. Twenty minutes later, Mueller capped the scoring with his third goal of the year. Zapata sent a cross into the box and Mueller finished from the penalty area in the right side of the net.
For the Rams, sophomore midfielder Fernando Tome fired the team's lone shot on goal.
Between the pipes, sophomore goalkeeper Griffin Volta (Orange, Conn. ) turned aside one shot in 80 minutes of action to earn his sixth win of the season. In relief of Volta, freshman Nick Cappiello (Hamden, Conn.) did not face shot in 10 minutes of play, which marked his first collegiate action. On the opposite end, Chamma made six saves in a losing effort for Suffolk.
Albertus Magnus held a 25-7 advantage in shots and the Falcons took seven corners compared to just three for the Rams. The physical contest saw five cards handed out.
Albertus Magnus returns to action on Saturday, October 24, hosting Johnson & Wales in GNAC action during the College's 19th annual Fall Fest. The clash with the Wildcats is slated to begin at 7:30 pm and will be under the lights.
