Stony Brook blanks Sacred Heart in opener

August 30, 2013

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Sophomore Alejandro Fritz (Budapest, Hungary) and freshman Favio Sbarra (Caracas, Venezuela) each scored a goal in the first half, and the Stony Brook men's soccer defense held Sacred Heart to one shot on goal as the Seawolves claimed a 2-0 victory in their season opener Friday night at LaValle Stadium.

Head Coach Ryan Anatol's Reaction

"It's good to start the season with a win, to score two goals and get a shutout. I thought defensively we were good all night, and not just the back four, but also the guys in front of them. It was a good performance overall."

Goal Recaps

In the 24th minute, the Seawolves played the ball from midfield into the box down the near left wing. Fritz picked up the dribble and maneuvered around one defender, but he was clipped from behind by another Pioneers defender, setting up a penalty shot. Shooting with his left leg, Fritz calmly pushed the ball passed the goalkeeper's left for the goal.
In the 31st minute, the Seawolves had control of the ball. Sophomore Mario Mesen (Brujas, Costa Rica) played the ball back 15 yards to a waiting freshman Jorge Torres (Miami, Fla.), who then launched the ball into the box. A Sacred Heart defender was screened by senior Will Casey (Setauket, N.Y.), opening up a look for Sbarra, who got the ball and one-timed it past the keeper to his right for the score.

The Numbers Game

The Seawolves outshot Sacred Heart 8-5 and held the Pioneers to just one shot on goal.
Redshirt freshman Jason Orban (Manorville, N.Y.) started in goal for Stony Brook and earned his first career clean sheet in what was his collegiate debut.
Fritz's goal was the sixth of his career; Sbarra's goal was his first collegiate score.

News & Notes

Stony Brook has won two straight over Sacred Heart and improves to 11-3-3 all-time against the Pioneers.
The Seawolves are now 19-2-1 under Anatol when scoring the match's first goal.
Stony Brook is now 11-4-0 in home openers since becoming Div. I in 1999.
The Seawolves are unbeaten (3-0-1) in their last four season openers.
Eight Seawolves made their collegiate debuts tonight.

Up Next

Stony Brook will return to action on Friday, Sept. 6 as the Seawolves travel to Philadelphia to play Penn at 5 p.m.