BOSTON, Mass.– Senior goalkeeper Alex Bachmann (Scarborough, Maine) made six saves, including a second-half penalty-kick stop, as Saint Joseph's College (1-2-3, 0-0-2 GNAC) battled Emmanuel College (1-3-2, 0-1-1 GNAC) to a 0-0 draw in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's soccer action at Roberto Clemente Field on Tuesday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
First-year midfielder Damir Brkic (South Portland, Maine) generated the first scoring opportunity of the evening, forcing Emmanuel goalkeeper David Derk to make a save just 2:30 into the contest. Brkic added two more attempts during the opening half as the Monks carried a 5-3 shooting advantage into intermission.
Both attacks generated more pressure in the second half, when Saint Joseph's recorded 10 shots and Emmanuel produced eight. Brkic placed another attempt on target in the 72nd minute before graduate midfielder Hayes Sweeney (Hollis, Maine) tested Derk with a shot less than three minutes later.
The Saints received a penalty kick in the 76th minute, but Bachmann denied Jacob Beck's attempt to preserve the scoreless deadlock. Bachmann added two more saves during a stretch of sustained Emmanuel pressure over the ensuing three minutes.
Saint Joseph's nearly broke through during the closing minutes. Junior forward Curtis Metcalf (South Portland, Maine) placed shots on goal in the 88th and 89th minutes, but Derk stopped both attempts. The Monks registered two more shots and a corner kick before the final whistle.
TEAM STATS:
Saint Joseph's held a 15-11 advantage in shots, including a 10-8 edge during the second half, while Emmanuel led 6-5 in shots on goal and 8-4 in corner kicks.
THE KEEPERS:
Bachmann made six saves to earn his second shutout of the season. Derk stopped five shots for Emmanuel.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
With Tuesday's result, Saint Joseph's moves to 16-4-3 in the all-time series with Emmanuel, including 6-3-2 mark in games played in Boston. Tonight's contest marked the second scoreless draw between the programs, joining a 0-0 result in Standish on September 25, 2010, and was the Monks' third shutout of Emmanuel in the last four meetings.
NEXT!
Saint Joseph's will host reigning GNAC Champion University of Saint Joseph on Saturday at 4:00 PM.
