WEST HAVEN, Conn. – A 106th-minute goal by Joseph D’Antonio (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside ) provided all of the offense as the University of New Haven men’s soccer team downed visiting Stonehill, 1-0, in the Chargers’ Northeast-10 Conference opener. Anastasios Petridis (Norwalk, Conn./Brien McMahon ) made four saves to lock up New Haven’s third consecutive shutout victory.
With the win, the Chargers move to 3-1-0 overall and 1-0-0 in Northeast-10 play. The Skyhawks fall to 1-3-1 on the season with an 0-2-0 conference tally.
D’Antonio’s marker came at 105:01, less than five minutes before the match would have been declared a draw. The senior took advantage of a Stonehill misplay of a 50/50 ball deep in the Chargers’ offensive end. D’Antonio took a touch with his left foot to bring the ball into the box then drove it with his right into the top right corner of the net to send New Haven to victory.
The biggest of Petridis’ four saves came in the first period of extra time. The reigning Northeast-10 Goalkeeper of the Week made a leaping effort and punched out a header by the Skyhawks’ RJ Aprile that was bound for the top corner of the net.
Petridis has been in goal for all but 5:45 of the Chargers’ trio of shutouts.
New Haven last ceded a goal in the season opener on Aug. 30, a span of 321:02.
Netminder Adam Colella made eight stops for Stonehill.
New Haven outshot the visitors, 21-7, and attempted nine corner kicks to the Skyhawks’ two.
The Chargers are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 15 as Northeast-10 play continues at Merrimack. After a “Local Derby” at crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State on Sept. 18, New Haven returns to Kayo Field to host Massachusetts Lowell on Friday, Sept. 21. That contest with the River Hawks will be broadcast live in high definition and available on most mobile devices on NewHavenChargers.com beginning at 4 p.m.
New Haven has posted three-straight shutouts for the first time since the 1997 season.
The Chargers held Veterans’ Recognition Day at Kayo Field. Members of the University’s Veterans Club and ROTC programs were recognized prior to the match and at halftime.
