Nov. 7, 2008
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA---The Saint Joseph's men's soccer team won a contentious 1-0 match against cross-town rival La Salle on Friday night at Finnesey Field. Colin Baker tallied the game's only goal with a first-half penalty kick, while Bryan Benedict made five saves for his third shutout of the season. The win gave the Hawks a share of the Philly Soccer Seven with Penn.
In a game that saw 11 bookings including two Explorers who were ejected late in the game, the Hawks kept their cool in tight circumstances.
Baker supplied early offensive firepower when he entered the penalty area with a clear chance to score but was taken down by La Salle's Gene Curran, who was cautioned on the play. On the ensuing penalty kick, Baker calmly put the ball to the lower left hand side of the net past Dan Pfeiffer (four saves) for the 1-0 lead and his sixth goal of the year.
La Salle (2-13-3, 1-7-0 Atlantic 10) controlled the play for most of the first half after the goal, out-shooting the Hawks by a 7-to-2 margin as Benedict came up big with three stops. Explorer forward Jim Davis would pick up a yellow card halfway through the first stanza for a harsh tackle.
Saint Joseph's (5-7-2, 2-5-1 Atlantic 10) had several chances on goal in the second frame, putting four shots on net, but none getting by Pfieffer. For the half, the Hawks out-shot the Explorers, 12-6.
The second half saw more physicality from both sides as the two teams amassed 21 fouls. La Salle's Jim Guntle received the Explorers' third yellow card of the game in the 52nd minute for unsporting behavoir setting up what would prove to be a touchy game the rest of the way.
Saint Joseph's Michael McInaw, Giacomo DiLisi, and D.J. Salmon all were cautioned within an eight minute span. Even as the referee attempted to maintain control, La Salle's Brian Lanning's late and dangerous tackle led to his red card ejection. Additionally Davis earned his second yellow card for dissent and was the second Explorer sent off with just under seven minutes remaining in the game.
The Hawks forced the issue as La Salle was two men down, but weren't able to muster another goal holding onto to a hard-fought and well-deserved victory.
Saint Joseph's finished 1-0-1 in the Philadelphia Soccer Seven, tied with Penn for the title. As per league rules, the PS7 coaches will vote on the champion prior to the Soccer Seven Awards Banquet later in November. SJU denied La Salle's outright bid at the championship with the win.
SJU will conclude its season with Senior Day on Sunday against Fordham. Game-time is set for 1:00 p.m. on Finnesey Field, which will see Joe Bodnar, Tom Johnson, Bill Layton, Nick Pozzessere, Andrew Tursi, Benedict and McInaw play in their final games on Hawk Hill.
