(10-07-07)
Box Score
WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Senior forward Tyler Smith (photo) scored twice, giving him three goals in the last two days, to help lead the University of New Haven to its third straight win with a 3-0 decision over Felician College in non-conference men's soccer action on Sunday afternoon at Kayo Field.
Smith scored in both the first and second half to help pace the Chargers to their third straight win and a 5-7-0 record overall. UNH has now won five of its last eight matches after starting the season with four straight losses.
"After a tough spot to start the season, we've gotten ourselves onto a little bit of a roll here," said UNH head coach Joshua Krusewski. "It's not always pretty, but we're finding ways to win games and that is a sign of good things to come. And hopefully we can bring that momentum with us across town on Tuesday when we play Southern Connecticut State."
At 25:56 in the first half, Cristian Sanchez hit a long pass to the right side to find Smith. He dribbled in a few steps before chipping the ball from about 18 yards out, over the head of goalkeeper Nick Lyons.
In the 66th minute, junior John Nolan crossed the ball from the left side and found Smith in front of the goal for a low, hard shot to the lower left corner and a 2-0 UNH advantage.
The Chargers got their third goal with just 2:45 remaining on the clock and a number of reserve players on the field. Starter Jason Zurita chipped the ball from the right end line to the front of the goal, where freshman substitute Trent McCaskill, just into the game, headed the ball into the right side of the goal for his first career score.
Felician (0-12-2) actually out-shot UNH by a 23-19 margin, including 15-7 in the second half. But UNH goalkeeper James Hilaire made six saves, including one high above his head in the first period and one diving stop to his left to knock away a sure-fire goal in the second. He shared his fourth shutout of the season with reserve Kevin Gargan.
The Chargers now play twice on the road in the upcoming week, with the trip on Tuesday, Oct. 6 to Southern Connecticut and a road match on the 9th at nationally-ranked and defending NCAA champions Dowling College.
