COLGATE ATHLETICS : MEN'S SOCCER : RELEASES

COLGATE RECORDS SECOND STRAIGHT WIN WITH 4-1 VICTORY AGAINST ST. PETER'S IN THE RED RAIDER CLASSIC

September 15, 2000

by Scott Schuster, Colgate Student Assistant

Hamilton, N.Y. -- The Colgate University men’s soccer team opened this weekend’s Red Raider Classic with a 4-1 victory against St. Peter’s for its second consecutive win at Van Doren Field Friday evening.

The Red Raiders (2-3-0) followed their six goal outburst over Binghamton last week with another impressive offensive performance, led by co-captain Brendan Skonieczki’s two goals -- his fourth and fifth of the season.

The highlight of the night included a goal on a diving header from Skonieczki as he finished teammate Jon Gelman’s cross in the 74^th minute of play. Skonieczki’s first of the night came on two passes from teammates Marc Hubbard and Brian McDermott who intercepted a failed Peacocks (0-5-0) clearing attempt.

Colgate defender Josh Viel scored his third marker of the year on a direct kick just outside the goalie box, that rocketed to the top left corner past St. Peter’s goalie Michael Sylvia. Viel, besides contributing another assist on the Skonieczki header, led the continuing improving defense, which limited St. Peter’s to only one goal in the first half and just three shots on the evening. The Red Raiders controlled the ball much of the second half and shut the Peacocks’ offense down by not allowing a single shot attempt in the half.

“We scored four goals, we are still attacking, and we are defending better. We gave up one goal, but I thought overall we defended better from the start to the finish,” Colgate head coach Mike Doherty commented on his team’s enhanced play.

St. Peter’s lone goal came on a penalty kick after a Colgate foul midway through the first half.

Colgate midfielder Cory Rosenthal closed out the scoring as he received a pass from Michael Henes at the 87:22 mark. Henes worked his way through the Peacocks defense and passed to the cutting Rosenthal scoring his first goal of the season.

“I thought it was a great result for us. I thought we played very well and I thought in the second half we played particularly well. I thought we stepped it up a level and fortunately for us St. Peter’s couldn’t match us,” Doherty added.

In the first game of the Classic, Towson downed Albany 3-2 behind two goals from Alfonso DeMares including the game-winning marker at the 74:31 mark.

Towson (3-2-0) jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Todd Lauber and DeMares. Randy Tolson set up Lauber on the first goal at 10:45 when he carried the ball down into the box and sent a low crossing through ball to Lauber for the goal. It was Lauber’s third goal of the season.

DeMares scored the second marker at 17:05 when Jared Murphy passed the ball from the left flank to DeMares for his second goal of the year.

Albany’s Nick Southworth single-handedly led the Great Danes (2-2-1) back into the contest with back-to-back goals at 23:32 and 61:17. Southworth got his first goal on a penalty kick after a Great Dane was pulled down in the box. He added his second of the game off a feed from Charlie Justino.

Towson’s DeMares scored the game-winner after receiving a pass from Lauber and his first shot was saved by Albany’s Trevor Serraro, but he got his own rebound and found the bottom right corner of the goal.

The tournament concludes on Saturday with Albany and St. Peter’s squaring off at 4:30, while the Red Raiders will close out the Classic against Towson at 7 p.m.