New Haven, Conn. – The Albertus Magnus College men's soccer team finished the regular season with a 9-7-1 overall record and earned the No. 5 seed in the upcoming Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament thanks to a 4-4-1 mark in league play.
The Falcons open postseason play on Saturday, October 29, traveling to the Bay State to square off with Suffolk in the GNAC Quarterfinals. Albertus Magnus will look to avenge a 1-0 setback to the Saints in the Elm City earlier this season and advance to the GNAC Semifinals for second straight fall. The winner of the GNAC Championship Tournament will determine the league's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
In the first meeting between the two conference foes, Suffolk held a 14-6 advantage in shots, as the Rams capitalized on an opportunity and the Falcons could not break through. Senior forward Alberto Bittan converted a feed from Jarrett Davis just outside the 18. Albertus Magnus played the game without senior midfielder Alex Zapata (Hamden, Conn.). In net, AMC sophomore Joe Russo (North Haven, Conn.) turned aside seven shots in a losing effort. On the opposite end, Kyle Van Cleef made four saves to post the shutout for Suffolk.
In total, the Falcons are making their 21st appearance in the GNAC Tournament having gone 16-17-4 with a pair of conference titles to their name. AMC took home the league crown in 1996 and most recently in 2012. Last fall, the team upset No. 3 seed Saint Joseph's (Maine) and No. 2 Mount Ida on the road advance to the GNAC Championship. Versus the Rams in the league tournament, the Falcons are 1-2-0 all-time. Overall, Albertus Magnus has won six of the last eight meetings with Suffolk.
Junior midfielder Justyn Broderick (Orange, Conn.) and senior midfielder Matt Mueller (Cheshire, Conn.) have both enjoyed breakout seasons for the Falcons. Both players have set new career-highs in goals and points this autumn. Broderick leads the squad in points with 17 thanks to six goals and five assists. His five helpers are tied for tops on the squad with freshman midfielder Brayan Lucero (East Haven, Conn.). Mueller has potted a team-best seven goals, including a pair of game-winners. Other factors up front for Albertus Magnus are senior Alex Zapata (Hamden, Conn.), junior Ritchy Jean Pierre (Fairfield, Conn.) and Lucero.
It has been another successful campaign for Zapata as he picked up 12 points thanks to netting five goals to go along with two assists. Both of his helpers came in a shutout win against Emmanuel. Zapata has made a mark with the team. During his stellar career, he has amassed 75 points thanks to 28 goals and 19 assists. He currently ranks fifth in program history in points, sixth in goals and eighth in assists. This fall, Lucero has twice been named the GNAC Rookie of the Week and Jean Pierre has set new career-bests in goals, assists and points.
Defensively, senior Alexis Garcia-Romero (West Haven, Conn.), senior Ben Colter (Guilford, Conn.), senior Earl McCoy (Hamden, Conn.) and freshman Anjel Dominguez (Wallingford, Conn.) have anchored the backline for Albertus Magnus this season. As a unit, the Falcons have allowed just over one goal per contest and registered four clean sheets.
In net, sophomore goalkeeper Joe Russo has played solid all autumn. In his first full season as a starter, Russo has posted a 1.24 goals-against average with 74 saves, a .787 save percentage, four shutouts and a 9-7-1 record. Two of his four clean sheets have come in conference play in 2016. He has once been tabbed as the GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week and was named to the weekly honor roll once as well.
