CSJ men beat NHTI 4 - 1

CONCORD, New Hampshire (CSJ) -- College of St. Joseph's men's soccer team traveled to New Hampshire Technical Institute for a rescheduled match-up Monday night, and returned 2-0 after defeating the Lynx handily, 4-1.

However, the game did not start off positively for the Fighting Saints. Three minutes into the match, the Saints gave up an own goal, putting themselves down 1-0 from the start. But three and a half minutes later, in a case that is rare in soccer, NHTI also conceded an own goal.

With the game tied at one within the first seven minutes of play, off of consecutive own goals from the separate teams, play settled down. It wasn't until the 38th minute, when Gabriel Fiset (Miami, Fla.) sent a cross into the box that either team got back onto the scoresheet. Rosyvelt Baessa (Central Falls, R.I.) was on the receiving end of Fiset's cross, tallying his fourth goal in two games for the Fighting Saints.

CSJ was awarded four corner kicks in the first half, and at the 42:12 mark, they capitalized on one. Alex Andrade took the kick, and as it soared towards the goal, Amani Francois (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was positioning himself. He executed a bicycle kick perfectly, putting the Fighting Saints ahead 3-1 before halftime. The goal was Francois' third in two games, and his second scored off a bicycle kick.

In the second half, play was back-and-forth, with each team taking eight shots. But CSJ's defense was impenetrable, led by Sergio Lopes(Pawtucket, R.I.), an All-Conference selection in 2016. The Fighting Saints gave up zero corner kicks, compared to five by the Lynx.

The five corner kicks given up by the Lynx is a sign of CSJ's attacking pressure. The Saints took 14 shots during the contest, with 10 being on-goal.

Fiset took a shot on goal at 75:56, scoring his first of the season and the Saints' final goal of the contest. He finished the game with one goal, one assist and his first points of the season.

CSJ will look to build on their best start to the season in six years on Sunday, Sept. 17 when they travel to Dean College for a 2 p.m. contest.