Saint Michael's Blanks Stonehill, 4-0
Purple Knights score twice each half as Skyhawks close out season
EASTON, Mass. (October 28, 2009) - Saint Michael's College scored two goals each half to claim a 4-0 victory over Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference men's soccer action at Skyhawk Field today. It marked the final match of the year for both programs as the Purple Knights were edged for a postseason berth and the Skyhawks hopes of their first .500 season in 12 years fell just short.
Stonehill closes out its season with a 7-9-1 record overall, 3-9-1 in the Northeast-10, while Saint Michael's finishes at 9-5-3, 5-5-3 in Conference play. The Skyhawks seven wins is the most for the team since they won the same amount in 2006.
Senior midfielder Jared Barry (Barrington, R.I./Barrington) scored a pair of goals for Saint Michael's, while freshman Michael Garcia (Maricopa, Ariz./Desert Vista) posted a goal and assist. Junior Rondel Ward (Saint George, Barbados) chipped in with a goal for the Purple Knights.
Senior goalkeeper Jason Burnett (South Burlington, Vt./Pendleton School) made seven saves in goal for Saint Michael's to preserve his eighth shutout of the season. Freshmen Eric Schott (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua Academy) and Chris Manke (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) both made their collegiate debuts and split the goalkeeping duties for Stonehill who finished with a 10-5 advantage in shots for the match. Manke posted the lone save of the day in the second half.
This afternoon marked the final collegiate match for Stonehill's five seniors: Martin Earley (Basel, Switzerland/Hampden (Maine) Academy), Ryan Hess (Springfield, Mass./Springfield Cathedral), Victor Regis (Topsfield, Mass./St. John's Prep) and co-captains Ben Irzyk (Wakefield, R.I./South Kingstown) and Shaun Keeley (Woburn, Mass./Woburn).
Saint Michael's took immediate control of the match with two goals in the opening 15 minutes. Garcia opened the scoring with his first collegiate goal 8:33 into the contest, before setting up Berry's first goal at 14:28. The Purple Knights extended their lead to three 5:41 into the second half with Ward's fourth of the season, assisted by junior Ryan Gannon (Colchester, Conn./Bacon Academy). Berry closed out the scoring with his team-leading sixth of the season on a free kick in the 89th minute.