Crusaders Lock Up Postseason Spot With 5-0 Win

SELINSGROVE, Pa. - On a sporadically windy day at Sassafras Field, the Susquehanna men's soccer team dominated play in a 5-0 win over Catholic University of America, clinching a #3 spot in post-season play.

The first ten minutes of the game proved to be quite crucial to the final outcome of Saturday's game. The orange and maroon squad were able to compile three goals before the first half clock stuck 35.

Susquehanna's senior day game opened scoring at 4:37 when the freshman forwards, Rhyan Nelson (Manalpan, N.J./St. John Vianney) and Jim Robertiello (Chester, N.J./West Morris Mendham), found themselves in scoring position. The two worked in tandem as Robertiello placed the ball at Nelson's magical feet; the outcome being a 1-0 advantage.

The second of the day would come from Nelson yet again when Isaac Laubach (Millville, Pa./Millville) fed him the ball. The Susquehanna intensity was evident both on and off the field as the scoreboard upped to 2-0. That intensity remained the same; however, the score would soon change.

Less than two minutes later, Robertiello would tally a goal of his own. Senior, Eric Baltimore (Shavertown, Pa./Dallas) assisted Robertiello on Susquehanna's third of the day.

After scoring three goals in less than a six minute span of play, Susquehanna let the scoreboard rest until Robertiello would rack in his second of the day at 32:05. Robertiello picked up a booted ball from keeper B.J. Merriam (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional), dribbled downfield into the box and finished the timely advancement with a shot into the right of the goal.

The half ended with a 4-0 Susquehanna advantage.

The second session of play was slightly comatose in comparison to the first. Catholic rallied to outshoot the Crusaders 9-8 in the second, yet Susquehanna did net a fifth and final goal with 15:54 of play remaining.

Dennis O'Hara (Salem, Va./Salem) switched fields of play with a cross downfield to Malek Giet (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township) where he received the ball and placed it precisely in the left inches of the goal.

Susquehanna ended their final regular season match with a 5-0 shutout. During the day, the Crusaders (9-6-2) out shot the Cardinals (6-10) 16-12, while Catholic held a 3-2 edge on corner kicks.

Merriam tallied a total of five saves throughout the game, during which Quinn Daly compiled six in the cage for the Catholic.