Men's Soccer Ends Season In GNAC Semifinals To Monks, 3-1

STANDISH, Maine - The fifth-seeded University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's soccer team's postseason run came to an end, falling in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Semifinals, 3-1, to top-seeded Saint Joseph's College of Maine (SJC) Tuesday evening at the SJC Athletics Complex. The loss ends the season for the Blue Jays who finish the 2021 campaign 12-5-1 overall. The program now sports a combined record of 32-16-4 (.654) in three full seasons of existence under the direction of head coach Paul Wright.

Saint Joseph's College struck first in what was a physical, fast-paced contest, as senior midfielder Jackson Fotter (Gorham, Maine) scored what could be described as the best goal netted by the Monks so far this season. On a throw-in from Jarred Greenleaf (Scarborough, Maine), the ball was headed by senior Kuma Onyejose (East Greenwich, R.I.) and Fotter, roaming near the right goalpost, executed a perfect bicycle kick into the right side of the net nine minutes into play.

The Blue Jays tied the game in the 37th minute, when sophomore forward Dane Stephens (Jamaica) registered his seventh goal of the year on a feed from junior Michael Torres (Hartford, Conn.).

The 1-1 deadlock lasted just six minutes however, as graduate Colin Grant (Harvard, Mass.) potted his team-leading 10th goal of the year on a penalty kick attempt. Sophomore midfielder Icaro Vieira (Westborough, Mass.) was taken down in the box to set up the PK bid and Grant finished with a laser into the right side of the net.

The Monks tacked on an insurance goal at the 55:58 mark when freshman midfielder Rion Dos Santos (São Paulo, Brazil) cleaned up a loose ball outside the top of the box and kicked a grounder into the bottom left corner for his fourth goal of the season.

SJC posted an 18-13 lead in shots while USJ held slim leads in shots on goal (8-6) and corner kicks (3-2) in a losing effort. SJC graduate David Walbridge (Hampden, Mass.) made seven saves in the victory while USJ netminder Jose Miguel Garcia Martin posted three saves in the loss to finish the year 6-4-1 between the pipes.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: #5 Saint Joseph 1, #1 Saint Joseph's College 3
Records: USJ 12-5-1, SJC 15-1-2
Location: SJC Athletics Complex | Standish, Maine
Notes: GNAC Semifinals

COACH QUOTE [Paul Wright] "A great effort tonight. Unfortunately a few close decisions didn't go our way compounded by two uncharacteristic mistakes that led to two of the goals. We are bitterly disappointed with the result but extremely determined to come back stronger next season."

UP NEXT
With the win, Saint Joseph's College advances to the GNAC Championship game and will host second-seeded Norwich University in the 2021 title bout at the SJC Athletics Complex on Saturday at 1:00 PM. Norwich blew past third-seeded Johnson & Wales University, 6-0, in the other semifinal Tuesday night to set up the fifth GNAC Championship game between the Monks and Cadets. For University of Saint Joseph, the loss signals the end of the 2021 campaign which they finish 12-5-1 overall.

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