A four-goal second-half led the Canisius College men’s soccer team to a 4-2 conference win at Marist on Wednesday afternoon. With the win, the Griffs improve to 5-3-2 on the season and 1-0-1 in MAAC play, while the Red Foxes drop to 1-9-0 and 0-2-0 against league foes.

“Our team showed a lot of resilience to come from a goal down to take the lead and earn the win today,” said Canisius head coach Dermot McGrane. “I was really proud of our composure down the stretch when Marist pushed for a late equalizer and we battled through for the victory.”

Juniors Asani Samuels and Denver Spearman led the Griffs with three points on the afternoon, tallying a goal and an assist. Senior Will Hudson and sophomore Nicoló Baudo also added a goal in the winning effort.

The teams combined for six tallies in the second half of play after a scoreless first frame. The Red Foxes opened the scoring in the 52nd minute when Steven Arraiano scored from an indirect free kick.

The Marist lead, however, lasted just 4:21 as Hudson answered with his team-best fourth goal of the season. The senior scored from the penalty spot to knot the game at one after Samuels was taken down in the box. Baudo then gave the Griffs their first lead of the day with his third tally of the season. Off a throw-in from junior defender Jon Cary, Baudo squeezed a shot past the Marist keeper near post for the 2-1 advantage with 17:46 remaining in regulation.

Spearman then stretched the Canisius lead to two with his first score of the season in 82nd minute. The junior finished a cross from Samuels with a volleyed goal for the 3-1 advantage. The Red Foxes got one goal back in the 86th minute when Greg Davis scored but the Griffs sealed their first conference win of the season when Samuels finished a 2-on-1 break by scoring off a Spearman cross with just 1:45 left for the 4-2 final score.

Canisius finished the game with a 14-8 advantage in shots and a 4-2 edge in corner kicks. Senior Ryan Arvin improved to 4-1-2 in net for the Griffs this season with two saves, while Anthony Sokalski stopped three shots for the Red Foxes.

The Griffs look to extend their unbeaten start in MAAC play on Saturday, playing at Fairfield. The conference matchup is set to kick off at 7 p.m.

Game Notes: The four goals in the second half are the most for the Griffs in a single frame since scoring four goals in the first half of a 6-6 draw with Iona on Oct. 10, 1999 … The four tallies are the most in a conference game for Canisius since a 4-0 victory at Manhattan on Oct. 15, 2010 … Samuels recorded a career-best three points in the win, while Spearman matched his personal high … Canisius has started 1-0-1 in MAAC play for the second time in three years under Coach McGrane.