PHILADELPHIA - After blanking St. Francis (0-0) and Howard (3-0) last week, the Saint Joseph's men's soccer team will conclude its three-game road trip at NJIT this Wednesday, October 2. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Mal Simon Stadium's Lubetkin Field in Newark, N.J.
SAINT JOSEPH'S (2-3-4) vs. NJIT (4-6-1)
Wednesday, October 2 • Lubetkin Field • 7:00 p.m.
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Last time out, Saint Joseph's defeated the Howard Bison, 3-0, on Sunday, Sept. 29 at Greene Stadium. The win marked the first road victory for the Hawks on the season. Junior midfielder Jake Nelson, freshman forward Emmanuel Temeh, and junior defender Tommy Brooks scored one goal apiece. Senior midfielder Pat McGlynn assisted on the first two goals while classmate Jimmy Reilly tallied the assist on Brooks' goal. After being held scoreless in their last two matches, the Hawks exploded on the offensive end to hold an eventual 13-6 advantage in shots. With that, Saint Joseph's held a dominating 8-0 advantage in shots on goal and saw 11 of the match's 12 corner kicks. Philadelphia Soccer Six Defender of the Week Andrew D'Ottavi played a full 90:00 between the pipes to earn his fourth shutout of the season and ninth of his career to tie him for fifth with Bryan Benedict (2005-10) and Pat Kirchner (1982-84) in all-time career shutouts on Hawk Hill.
For the season, Nelson (3G), sophomore midfielder Tim Lazorko (2G, 2A), and senior midfielder Jimmy Reilly (1G, 2A) lead the Hawks on the offensive side of the ball while D'Ottavi sports a 1.17 GAA and .750 saves percetange in 845:00.
The Highlanders are 4-6-1 after dropping a 2-0 match at Bryant on Sunday, Sept. 29. Sunday's two-goal margin of defeat marked the first time this season NJIT has lost by more than one goal. The Highlanders were outshot 10-4 as NJIT goalkeeper David Tuchinsky made six saves in the loss. On the season, Marko Drijic (3G, 2A), Sven Beverst (2G), and Tommy Osipitan (2G) lead the Highlanders in scoring while Tuchinsky (3-3-0) has taken the starting spot in goal to sport a 1.08 GAA and .833 saves percentage in 585:00.
GAME NOTES:
SERIES HISTORY - Saint Joseph's vs. NJIT
All-Time Series: NJIT leads 2-1-1
SJU Streak: -1
First Meeting: 11/10/79, NJIT 3-0
Last Meeting: 8/27/12, NJIT 2-0
Last SJU Win: 10/7/08, 2-1
Last NJIT Win: 8/27/12, 2-0
Coach D'Ambra vs. NJIT: 0-1-0
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE HIGHLANDERS: On August 27 of last season, Saint Joseph's fell to NJIT by a final score of 2-0 at Finnesey Field. NJIT only took one shot in the first half compared to SJU's five, but it came on Highlander Cristian Marcel's goal in the bottom 90 of the net in the 31st minute. Early into the second half, an opportunity presented itself to the Hawks as a result of a Highlander penalty, but sophomore midfielder Jake Nelson's shot on goal was deflected. One minute later, NJIT's Joshua Mercer scored to extend the Highlander lead to 2-0 in the 53rd minute. Saint Joseph's outshot NJIT 11-4, but two of the Highlanders' four shots found the back of the net. The Hawks held the advantage in corner kicks, 8-1, but NJIT goalkeeper Lars Maalen-Johansen's four saves on the day made the difference.
HEADED BACK HOME: After playing three matches on the road, Saint Joseph's will return home for the weekend of Oct. 11-13 to host St. Bonaventure and Duquesne in Atlantic 10 action.
ANDREW'S ACCOLADES: Posting back-to-back shutouts this week, Saint Joseph's redshirt senior goalkeeper Andrew D'Ottavi has been named the Philadelphia Soccer Six Defender of the Week, it was announced today. At St. Francis (N.Y.) on September 26, D'Ottavi made four saves in a full 110:00 as the Hawks saw their fourth draw of the season. Three days later at Howard, D'Ottavi played the full 90:00 between the pipes to earn his fourth shutout of the season. With the blank sheet, D'Ottavi now owns nine shutouts over his career and currently ties for fifth with Bryan Benedict (2005-10) and Pat Kirchner (1982-84) in all-time career shutouts on Hawk Hill.
BLANK SHEETS: The defensive unit of seniors Brendan Reilly and Brian Reynolds and juniors Tommy Brooks and Brandon Stevis combined to shut down the offense of the past two opponents as the Hawks battled to a scoreless draw with St. Francis on Sept. 26 and blanked Howard, 3-0, on Sept. 29. The quartet did not allow Howard to land a single shot on goal throughout latter match.
MIDFIELD MADNESS: The Hawks have seen the most offensive production from their midfield line of seniors Pat McGlynn and Jimmy Reilly, junior Jake Nelson, and sophomore Tim Lazorko. The quartet has combined for 67 percent (18-of-27) of SJU's points and is accountable for 86 percent (6-of-7) of the Hawks' assists.
