Men's Soccer Falls to Franklin & Marshall in NCAA Tournament

LANCASTER, Pa. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's soccer team fought hard, but saw its 2022 season come to a close after falling on the road against Franklin & Marshall (F&M), 2-0, in the NCAA Tournament First Round. The 2022 season was historic for the Blue Jays as the team won its first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship and made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

GAME INFORMATION 
Score: USJ 0, F&M 2
Records: USJ (13-4-3), F&M (13-2-4) 
Location: Tylus Field (Lancaster, Pa.)
Notes: NCAA First Round

KEY MOMENTS 

• F&M nearly opened up the scoring in the fifth minute. Senior goalkeeper Matthew Goebel (Norton, Mass.) was caught trying to bring the ball inside the box to pick up, as Owen Sobel stole the ball, but missed an open net to keep the game scoreless.
• The game would quiet as both teams tried to figure out one another in the opening half.
• USJ looked to break open the scoring in the 29^th minute. Graduate student DeAnte Anderson (Bloomfield, Conn.) received a cross from Jared Galarza (Newington, Conn.), but Anderson took a heavy touch, rebounding the ball out of bounds.
• Anderson continued to be a threat for the Diplomats defense, finding a opportunity in the 39th minute. After working his way into the left side of the box, his strike missed just wide, rifling off the frame of the net. Anderson continued to cause headaches generating another chance immediately, getting inside the box, before his shot was well saved by the F&M goalkeeper, Sam Farrell.
• The Blue Jays found one more chance late in the second half as senior midfielder Michael Torres (Hartford, Conn.) received the ball on the left wing, cutting his way inside to open up a shot, but his curling effort was right at Farrell in the 42^nd minute.
• Neither offense would find the opening goal in the first half as both sides entered the halftime break deadlocked at 0-0.
• Anderson wasted little time trying to give USJ the lead in the second half, but his effort from 25 yards out missed just wide in the 51^st minute.
• However, it would be the host Diplomats who took the lead in the 53^rd minute. Nathan Schlessinger picked up a loose ball from 30 yard out and launched a low-driven strike that beat Goebel in the bottom left corner, giving F&M a 1-0 lead.
• USJ would look to respond in the 65^th minute as Mergim Kutllovci (Thomaston, Conn.) received the ball on the left wing, cutting inside to open a shooting lane. Kutllovci tried to curl his shot into the right corner, but his effort fell right into the arms of Farrell.
• Kutllovci continued to trouble the F&M right back, working his way into the box in the 67^th minute. After defeating his defender, Kutllovci ripped a shot hard and low across the goal, but Farrell got a hand on the effort to parry it wide.
• It would be the Diplomats though that extended the lead, doubling its advantage in the 71st minute. Koa Kaliebe raced down the left wing, finding his way inside the box near the goal line. Kaliebe then played a cutback pass to Adam Green, who slotted the ball past the outrushing Goebel to give F&M a 2-0 edge.
• The Blue Jays continued to battle until the end, but the Diplomats defense stood firm, keeping USJ off the scoreboard to preserve the 2-0 victory.

QUOTABLE 

"I'm really proud of the effort and desire we showed today. Our players gave everything to try and win. Unfortunately, we fell short both with the quality in the final third and in a couple of defensive situations. We are all bitterly disappointed and hope to use this experience to come back as a stronger group," said head coach Paul Wright.

NOTES 

• The Blue Jays outshot the Diplomats, 14-11, including a 5-4 edge in shots on goal.
• F&M had the upper hand in corner kicks, earning four compares to USJ's two.
• Goebel recorded two saves on the afternoon.
• Anderson paced the offense with six shots.

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