Saint Joseph’s Blanks Fitchburg State, 3-0

Ivanov stops five shots in Falcons season-opening loss

KEENE, N.H. (September 4, 2010) – The Fitchburg State men’s soccer team suffered a season-opening setback, falling to Saint Joseph’s College, 3-0 at the 2010 Xara Classic hosted by Keene State College.

After a scoreless first half of play, Saint Joseph’s broke the scoring drought in the second period, netting three goals over the 45 minute frame. The Monks got on the board quickly as senior Eammon Harigan (Caribou, Maine/Caribou) netted an unassisted marker from the left wing just 1:20 into the half.

Later in the period, sophomore Jack LaFreniere (Alton, N.H./Prospect Mountain) added to the Monks lead (2-0) with his first goal of the season, using a touch pass from Paul Robins’ (Cornwall, England/Poltair) to beat Falcons’ keeper Alex Ivanov (Carlisle, Mass./Concord Carlisle). Saint Joseph’s iced the contest late in the match, using a goal by freshman Ross Suleski (Amesbury, Mass./Saint Thomas Aquinas) to secure its first victory of the season.

The Monks used an intense offensive attack, outshooting Fitchburg State 21-7 in the contest with a 9-0 advantage in corner kicks. Junior goaltender Nick Campasano (Goffstown, N.H./Goffstown) earned the victory for Saint Joseph’s, stop five shot over 90 minutes of work, while Ivanov also notched five saves for the Falcons.

Fitchburg State (0-1, 0-0 MASCAC) will battle Keene State College tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. Saint Josephs’ (1-0, 0-0 GNAC) will face Kean University tomorrow at 12 p.m.

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Saint Joseph’s 3, Fitchburg State 0

Scoring:
1st Half: none
2nd Half: SJC: Eammon Harigan, 46:20; SJC: Jack LaFreniere (Paul Robins), 60:39; SJC: Ross Suleski (Robins), 84:22;
Goalkeeping: FIT: Alex Ivanov (90:00), five saves; SJC: Nick Campasano (90:00), five saves
Shots: FIT: 7; SJC: 21