WEST POINT, N.Y.  – The Army men’s soccer team struck for a season-high three goals during a dominating second half performance as the Black Knights collected a 3-0 shutout victory over Central Connecticut State on Tuesday evening at Clinton Field.

Army improves to 3-2-3 with the victory, while Central Connecticut State slips to 3-3-0.

“We needed this game in terms of the performance from last Saturday, and this was a good response to that,” said head coach Russell Payne. “We have to keep this going. We finally rewarded ourselves and now we need to build on that.”

Sophomores Alex Jaroscak and Christian Ollen each found the back of the net for the first time this season for the Black Knights, while freshman Mario Da Silva tallied the game winner for his second of the season. Senior goalkeeper Winston Boldt made three saves to pick up his fifth shutout of the campaign and extend his Academy record to 21 career clean sheets.

The Black Knights trailed the visiting Blue Devils, 4-3, in shots during the opening half, but Army’s offense took charge in the second half as it owned 14-3 shot advantage in the period.

Army junior Cody Guerry had one of the better scoring chances of the first half as he sent a hard shot from inside the 18-yard box just wide of Central Connecticut State’s right post in the 18th minute. Boldt made one of his two saves of the first stanza on a Blue Devil attack that developed quickly and resulted in a shot from 10 yards out by freshman Filosmar Cordeiro in the 35th minute.

The hosts found themselves on the defensive early in the second frame as Central Connecticut State registered all three of its shots in the half during the first 10:19. Senior Keir Hannity and junior Giorgi Mandzulashvili sent attempts off target in the 49th and 50th minutes, respectively, before Mandzulashvili’s high shot was deflected over the crossbar by Boldt in the 56th minute.

The Black Knights struck back with a threatening scoring chance of their own when junior Cameron Niccum headed classmate Justin Kim’s right-swinging corner kick just over the crossbar in the 57th minute.

Shortly after Niccum’s header, Mario Da Silva put Army on the board, scoring on a pass from sophomore Tanner Vosvick in the 63rd minute to give the Black Knights their first home goal of the season.

Jaroscak doubled Army’s lead 6:15 later after beating Central Connecticut State senior goalie Josef Abele on the right side in the 69th minute on an assist from freshman Spencer Goldstein. Sophomore Christian Ollen added the third goal in the 78th minute to put the game out of reach for Central Connecticut State, connecting on a pass from the right side by classmate Ethan Spivack.

Army continued to attack with three shots in the final 9:39, while not allowing the visitors enough possession to spoil the shutout.

Army closes out its three-game homestand at Clinton Field on Saturday at 7 p.m. when the Black Knights begin Patriot League play against Bucknell.

GAME NOTES: Army evens up its all-time series with Central Connecticut State, improving to 3-3-0 against the Blue Devils … senior Mario Da Silva scored his team-leading second goal of the year, while sophomore Alex Jaroscak and Christian Ollen added their first tallies of the season … freshman Spencer Goldstein picked up his first career point with an assist on Army’s second goal … freshman Marcos Arroyo made his first appearance in the starting 11, while classmates James Mbony and Okheem Riley made their collegiate debuts.

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