The Canisius men's soccer team defeated Saint Peter's University by the score of 2-0 on Senior Night at the Demske Sports Complex on Saturday. The Golden Griffins improve to 9-6-2 overall and 4-4-1 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The ninth win of the season ties the program record set in the 1980 season.
“This was a big win for us tonight. Our team knows what it needs to do to give itself a shot to get into the MAAC Tournament. I thought we handled the pressure well, and we got the result we wanted,” Canisius coach Dermot McGrane said. “The good thing is that nothing is decided until Wednesday. All we can do is go out and win that game.”
Canisius had a number of good scoring opportunities in the first 20 minutes of the game, but was unable to convert. Saint Peter's (4-13-0, 2-7-0 MAAC) had its best chance of the first half about 25 minutes into the game, but Canisius goalie Andrew Coughlin made a leaping save to knock the ball over the goal and keep the game scoreless.
Canisius got on the board in the 34th minute on the eighth goal of the season from senior Asani Samuels. Coughlin kicked the ball about 70 yards down the field, and a Saint Peter's defender misplayed the ball. Samuels got behind the Peacocks' defense, dribbled around a sliding Saint Peter's goalie and buried the ball just past the outstretched leg of a Saint Peter's defender to put Canisius up 1-0.
The Griffs were able to extend in the 63rd minute when freshman Lucian Preis fed the ball to Samuels on the left side. Samuels brought the ball near the edge of the penalty area and crossed the ball across the goal and past the diving goalkeeper. Samuels found senior Derek Maier on the back door, who scored on the wide open net for his fourth goal of the season.
Coughlin posted his seventh shutout of the 2014 season by making four saves.
Canisius outshot Saint Peter's 22-9 on the game, including 13-4 in the second half.
Canisius concludes regular-season play on Wednesday night, when the Golden Griffins play rival Niagara University. Game time in the Battle of the Bridge contest is set for 7 p.m. in Lewiston, N.Y.
Notes: Canisius defeated Saint Peter's for the first time since the 2008 season… Canisius has allowed one or goal or fewer in nine of the last 10 games… Prior to the start of the game, the team honored the seven members in its senior class – Samuels, Maier, Jon Cary, Pat Conlon, Andrea Conte, Reiner Dollak and A.C. LaFlore.
