NASHUA, N.H. - The Albertus Magnus College men's soccer team extended its winning streak to five straight with a 1-0 defensive showcase over the Raiders of Rivier University on Saturday afternoon.
Kelvin Cortez (Meriden, Conn.) scored his second game-winning goal of the season in the ninth minute. Garfield Robinson (West Haven, Conn.) continued his brilliant start to the year in the net, converting both of his save opportunities and securing his fourth shutout of 2021.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Albertus Magnus 1 | Rivier 0
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (6-1, 4-0 GNAC) | Rivier (1-5, 1-4 GNAC)
BOX SCORE
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Falcons wasted no time, as the match's first shot also went for the lone goal. Eight minutes into the first half, Johan Stagnaro (East Hartford, Conn.) found himself with the ball and sent a laser of a coss that found Cortez. Cortez flicked the pass with his head into the bottom-left corner of the net to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead just 8:44 into the game.
The rest of the opening half passed with relative ease before Stagnaro flirted with another goal at the 25th minute but was denied when Raiders' goalkeeper Sebastien Lembo made a spectacular save to preserve the hosts' 1-0 deficit. The teams battled back-and-forth for the ball for the remainder of the half before Rivier's Ryan Hadouche fired a shot in the 40th minute that could not break through Robinson's barrier. The Falcons held strong for the remaining five minutes to go into the halftime break up 1-0.
Stagnaro started the second half like he did the first, threatening again at the 56th-minute, ripping a shot toward the bottom right corner of the net that Lembo snared.
The Raiders tallied just their second shot of the afternoon in the 78th minute that Robinson calmly gathered to maintain the clean sheet. The Falcons were not preasured for the remainder of the contest, holding on to remain perfect in the GNAC at 4-0.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
Albertus: Garfield Robinson (6-1) - 2 Shots on Goal | 0 Goals-Against | 2 Saves
Rivier: Sebastien Lembo (0-2-0) - 3 Shots on Goal | 1 Goal-Against | 2 Saves
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Albertus outshot Rivier, 6-3.
- The Falcons held the slight edge in corner kicks with a 4-3 advantage.
- The Raiders were whistled for six fouls to the Falcons' five.
- Stagnaro led all players with two shots and two shots on goal.
- This is Robinson's fourth shutout of the season, which is a new career-high for the Falcons' net-minder.
NOTEWORTHY
- This is the 29th meeting all-time between the Raiders and the Falcons.
- Albertus holds the edge in the all-time series with a 21-5-3 mark.
- Robinson's four shutouts this season place him in the top-20 nationally, and his .875 save percentage is tied for 21st nationally.
UP NEXT
On Wednesday, Sept. 29, the Falcons return to action with a home conference showdown against the Blue Jays of the University of Saint Joseph (CT). Game time is set for 7 PM in New Haven, Conn.
