ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Goals scored by junior midfielder Matt Crawford in the closing minutes of each half gave the Saint Joseph's men's soccer team a 2-0 win over St. Bonaventure in the Atlantic 10 opener for both teams at the Marra Athletics Complex on Saturday night.

Crawford scored the match-winner late in the first half and sealed the win with a goal in the 89th minute. Junior goalkeeper Greg O'Connell posted his fifth clean sheet of the season, making three saves.

"St Bonaventure is always a difficult road trip, and I was extremely proud of the team for getting the result and getting the shutout," said Saint Joseph's head coach Don D'Ambra following the match. Matty Crawford was extremely opportunistic tonight finishing two huge goals at really important times in the game. He came up big tonight for the team!"

The first half ebbed and flowed, with neither side being able to grab an advantage for much of the period. Senior forward Mori Diane tested Luke Iacobellis early, but the SBU keeper made the third-minute save, his only stop of the night, to keep the match level.

"The game was very sloppy in the beginning, and we settled in as the game went on," added D'Ambra. "We created a lot of dangerous opportunities and were hoping to convert more than we did."

St. Bonaventure (1-8-1 overall, 0-1-0 Atlantic 10) enjoyed a period of sustained pressure in the middle of the half, but O'Connell rose to the occasion, saving efforts off the feet of Jacob Dyck and Kosi Nwafornso.

Saint Joseph's (4-5-1 overall, 1-0-0 Atlantic 10) broke through in the 41st minute as Crawford scored his fourth goal of the season to give the Hawks the lead.

The Bonnies pressed for an equalizer in the second half, but only put one shot on target, as O'Connell stifled an attempt from Paul Afful in the 75th minute.

Dyck came close to scoring in the 88th minute, but his effort sailed high over the bar. Just 51 seconds later, Crawford secured the three points for the Hawks with a long distance free kick for his fifth goal of the season.

St. Bonaventure outshot Saint Joseph's, 13-9, with both sides putting three attempts on frame.  The Hawks enjoyed a slim 4-3 advantage in corner kick opportunities, and were flagged for the night's only offside violation.

The Hawks return to Sweeney Field for a matchup with Rhode Island on Wednesday night.  Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

MATCH NOTES: Crawford maintained his recent scoring form and has scored SJU's last four goals... The Hawk defense stood tall once again, conceding one goal or less for the seventh time in 10 matches... Saint Joseph's has now opened its conference slate with a victory in each of the last three seasons; the Hawks shut out Massachusetts in both 2014 and 2015... The Hawks have now won three consecutive matches against the Bonnies, their longest active winning streak against a conference opponent.