Men’s Soccer Looks for Third Straight Win Today vs. Salve Regina

BOSTON – The Suffolk men's soccer team looks to push its win streak to three tonight as the Rams entertain Salve Regina at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park tonight.   

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LAST TIME OUT
The Suffolk men's soccer team locked up its second straight win in as many games as the Rams routed Regis, 4-2, at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park Saturday afternoon.  

MORE READING: Men's Soccer Stuns Regis, 4-2, for Second Straight Win

RUNDOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk scored four goals in back-to-back games, earning victories in both outings to level its overall record to 3-3. The Rams first downed Pine Manor, 4-1, before defeating Regis, 4-2. 

The Rams' 17-goal offense sits second in the league with Alberto Bittan responsible for 64.7 percent of the scores. The senior's 11 goals are not just the top in the league, but are leading all NCAA Division III with his 24 points also good for the best in the nation. The Ram with the second-most points is Jordan Casey, who has nine to his credit on three goals and three assists.

Kyle Van Cleef is 2-3 in the net for Suffolk. The sophomore keeper boasts a .675 save percentage with 27 saves and 13 goals allowed for a 2.49 goals-against average. 

SOMETHING 'BOUT THE SEAHAWKS
Salve Regina is winless through six games this season with its first results of the year coming in a 0-0 double overtime tie against the University of New England. 

Jared Warren leads the Seahwaks with two goals and one assist for five points. Evan Dudney has dished out a team-best two assists with Steven Aston and Evan MacDonald each tallying one goal apiece. 

Michael Payan and Bryan McCormak have each seen action in between the pipes for Salve Regina. In five starts, Payan boasts a 0-4-1 record with 28 saves (.700 %) and a 2.30 goals-against average. In his lone appearance McCormack has allowed and stop two balls, respectively, for a .500 save percentage and 1.88 goals-against average. 

INSIDE THE SERIES
Since 2010, Suffolk and Salve Regina have met five times with Salve Regina earning every victory in such meetings. The Rams have been outscored by the Seahawks, 21-5, and have been shutout in the past two meetings.  

EYES ON THE GAME
 

HATS OFF
Alberto Bittan knocked in three goals against UMass Dartmouth Sept. 4, becoming the first Ram to register a hat trick since Djibril Niang did so against the Corsairs Oct. 28, 2014. He repeated a three-goal game performance against Regis Sept. 17, becoming the first Suffolk player to net two hat tricks in one season since Danny Lloyd scored a pair in 2010. 

GOALIE OF THE WEEK
For the second straight week a member of the Suffolk men's soccer team was honored by the conference as sophomore keeper Kyle Van Cleef was named GNAC Corvias Goalie of the Week following a shutout performance in the Rams' league opener.

CONFERENCE OPENER
Suffolk won its conference opener for the first time since defeating Anna Maria in the first league game of the 2012 season, 9-0. 

SHUTOUT
The Rams shutout over Albertus Magnus Sept. 10 was the first time Suffolk kept an opponent scoreless since a 2-0 win versus Johnson & Wales Sept. 27, 2014. 

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alberto Bittan picked up the first GNAC Corvias Player of the Week honor of the 2016 campaign, as the senior notched 11 points off five goals and on assist in a two-game opening week for Suffolk men's soccer.   

MORE READING: Bittan Named First GNAC Corvias Player of the Week for 2016 

SCORING FRENZY
Suffolk's five goals in the 6-5 setback to UMass Dartmouth Sept. 4 are the most for the Rams since Suffolk matched that number versus Anna Maria Oct. 13, 2014. 

#RAMSFANFEST
For the second straight year, Suffolk Athletics invites all members of Ram Nation to East Boston Memorial Park for a double feature soccer contest and #RamsFanFest Saturday, Oct. 15.

SUFFOLK FREE RADIO
Suffolk Athletics has teamed up with Suffolk Free Radio to bring Ram Nation 17 live broadcasts of Suffolk soccer games this season. 

The pre-game shows are set to launch 15 minutes prior to kick-off of all contests and fans can follow along at mixlr.com/suffolkfreeradio/.  

COMING UP
Suffolk's returns to conference action Saturday, Sept. 24 when the Rams entertain Johnson & Wales at 1 p.m. in Eastie.