RAIDERS SHUT OUT STETSON, 3-0, IN SEASON OPENING WIN

Contact: Christina Cracolici

Phone: (315) 228-6761

August 31, 2001

Orlando, Fla. - Colgate University’s men’s soccer opened its season in the right direction Friday night, posting a 3-0 shut out win over Stetson University in the first game of the University of Central Florida Soccer Classic in Orlando, Fla.

Sophomore Zack Stuppy (York, Maine/York) opened up the scoring for the Raiders finessing in a near post shot off of a flighted ball from freshman Kevin Meehan (Westlake, Ohio/St. Ignatius) in the 24^th minute.

With the Raiders up 1-0 over Stetson, play continued until the 39^th minute when severe weather led to the game being delayed for over two hours. 

Following a return to action, scoring held off until the 69^th minute when sophomore Jimmy Ventriglia (Highland, N.Y./Highland) netted his first goal of the season and third of his career.  Freshman forward Peter Bourquin (Avon, Conn./Avon) took advantage of a failed Stetson defensive clear and stripped the ball from a Hatter’s back, charging forward towards the net.  Bourquin drew out the Hatter’s keeper and pushed the ball wide to an on-coming Ventrigilia who pushed the ball in with a sliding shot. 

The Raiders final tally of the game came at 88:58 when senior co-captain Tim Gerges (Simsbury, Conn./Westminster) hit a one-time shot  to the upper corner of the nets.  Freshman Jonathan Cook (Oneonta, N.Y./Laurens Central) set up Gerges when he took a Stuppy header and played a through ball. 

Raider net-minder Will Martin (Excelsior, Minn./Breck) earned the shut-out making two saves on nine Stetson shots. The shutout is the first of Martin’s career. 

The Raiders out-shot Stetson nine to seven.  Assistant Coach Chip Warner credited Colgate’s defense for the shut out, “The defense played together really well and shut down Stetson’s offense.” 

Colgate  (1-0) 1-2-3

Stetson (0-1)             0-0-0

CU – Zack Stuppy (assisted by Kevin Meehan)  24:20

CU – Jimmy Ventriglia (assisted by Peter Bourquin) 69:00

CU – Tim Gerges (assisted by Jonathan Cook, Stuppy) 88:58

Shots: CU 9, Stetson 7  Corner Kicks: CU 3, Stetson 5

Goalie Saves: CU – Will Martin (90 min) 2, Stetson – Tim Riek 1