PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College men’s soccer team earned its fourth consecutive victory with a 1-0 triumph over Sacred Heart Saturday afternoon in a non-conference match played at Glay Field.  Red-shirt sophomore Wilder Arboleda (Pawtucket, R.I.) scored the lone goal of the match in the second half as the Friars improved to 4-1.  The Pioneers are now 2-2.

The first half was a scoreless draw as the Friars held a 6-2 edge in shots and carried possession.  Providence’s best chance early on came in the 12th minute when sophomore Phil Ziegler (East Lyme, Conn.) fired a right-footed shot from 18 yards out that hit the cross bar and bounced out.

In the second half, freshman Phil Towler (Cumbria, England) nearly gave the Friars the lead, but his attempt from 18 yards out after a corner kick missed wide right in the 52nd minute.  The Friars broke through in the 60th minute when freshman Thomas Ballenthin (Lexington, Mass.) played a cross from the left flank to Arboleda who had made a run to the back post.  Arboleda, who scored twice in PC’s win over Sacred Heart last season, leaped and placed a lofting header into the left corner of the net.  It marked Arboleda’s second consecutive match-winning goal this week, as he scored the overtime winner at Rhode Island on Monday night.  For Ballenthin, it marked his first collegiate assist.

Sacred Heart nearly scored in the equalizer in the 69th minute when Brian Francolini’s left-footed drive from 25 yards out hit the outside of the right post and out.  In the 76th minute, Marcello Castro had a shot from in close after a corner kick, but PC senior Jhojan Obando (Kissimmee, Fla.) made a sliding stop to keep the Pioneers scoreless.  Obando finished with two saves to record his third consecutive shutout and the ninth of his career.  He has not allowed a goal in 339:01.  Alex Fait had one save for Sacred Heart.    

The Friars are back in action on Wednesday, September 14 at 3:00 p.m. when they host Holy Cross at PC’s Glay Field.

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