Oct. 16, 2005

Final Stats

MILTON, N.Y.- The Marist Men's Soccer team picked up an important conference win on Sunday afternoon when they defeated Rider 2-0 at the Hudson Valley SportsDome. Freshman Chris Nacca (Rochester, N.Y.) notched his first career goal at 33:33, and it proved to be the game winner. Sophomore goalkeeper Daniel Owens (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) made five saves to record his first career shutout. With the win the Red Foxes improve to 4-7-1 overall and 2-2 in the MAAC.

The game was scoreless until Steve Fantuzzo (Penfield, N.Y.) fed Nacca, his former high school teammate, with a crossing pass that the 5-4 midfielder was able to bury just inside the left post. That was just the beginning for Nacca, however, as he assisted on Anthony Graci's (Kings park, N.Y.) insurance goal in the 53rd minute. Keith Detelj (Sayville, N.Y.) also added an assist on Graci's marker, his second helper of the year.

Owens was not tested early, but came up with key saves in the second half to preserve the shutout and the victory for Marist. His biggest stop came on a shot labeled for the lower left hand corner of the goal. He fully extended his body and was able to tip the ball wide. Owens is unbeaten in three starts this season and posts a 2-0-1 record.

The Red Foxes held the advantage in shots during the match at 13-8. Of the 13 shots nine were put on goal. Rider got off eight shots on the afternoon and Owens stopped all five that were on net.

The win squares Marist's record in the conference with an important trip to Buffalo coming up next weekend. Marist will travel to Canisius for a Friday night match at 7 p.m., before heading to Niagara on Sunday afternoon to face the Purple Eagles. The Red Foxes return home to play Siena October 29. Kickoff for the Siena match is set for 7 p.m. at Leonidoff field.