PHILADELPHIA – Entering Wednesday's match atop the Atlantic 10 standings, the Saint Joseph's men's soccer squad (6-5-1, 3-0-0 A-10) will host conference opponent Davidson (2-9-0, 0-2-0 A-10) this Wednesday, October 12. Start time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Sweeney Field. Live streaming of the match will be provided via the Atlantic 10 Network.
Now at six wins on the season, SJU has already exceeded its total number of wins from last fall by two, with six regular-season matches left to be played.
Saint Joseph's was predicted to finish 11th in the A-10 regular-season, per the 2016 A-10 Men's Soccer Preseason Poll. Davidson was voted ninth.
The reigning Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week and Philadelphia Soccer Six Co-Player of the Week, Saint Joseph's junior midfielder Matt Crawford leads the squad in scoring with 17 points on a team-best seven goals and team-best three assists. In conference matches, Crawford leads the A-10 in total points (10), points per game (3.33), total goals (4), and goals per game (1.33) and ties for the conference lead in total assists (2).
Sophomore forward Derek MacKinnon (2g, 1a) and senior forward Mori Diane (2g) added goals last week, with MacKinnon's goals against Rhode Island and George Mason serving as match-winners. Senior defender Mike Stuski has dished out a pair of helpers this season.
Junior goalkeeper Greg O'Connell (6-5-1, 3-0-0 A-10) sports a 0.97 goals against average and .803 save percentage in all 1110:44. Through 12 starts, O'Connell has made 49 saves against just 12 goals allowed to go with five shutouts.
In the last 270:00, SJU's defensive core of O'Connell, Stuski, juniors Kevin Lockhart and Ben Zambetti, and sophomore Eddie McCusker alongside the midfield group of Crawford and seniors Bliss Harris and Eric Jordan has allowed just two goals, while playing a majority of the minutes.
Davidson enters Wednesday's match-up on Hawk Hill at 2-9-0 overall and 0-2-0 in the A-10. The Wildcats are coming in off of a 3-2 home loss to St. Bonaventure this past Saturday. Prior to that match, Davidson had defeated Duke, 3-1, on the road to snap a five-match losing streak.
Maxi Pragnell (4g, 2a) and Christian Fechter (3g, 1a) lead the Wildcats in scoring while Andrew Kenneson (2-9-0, 0-2-0 A-10) sports a 2.08 goals against average and .705 save percentage in 997:19, all but 9:02 in net for the Wildcats.
Davidson owns a 2-0-0 all-time series advantage, with 3-0 victories over the Hawks in 2014 and 2015.
