Men's Soccer Storms Past UNE on Senior Day, 4-0

EAST BOSTON – Suffolk men's soccer recorded its sixth shutout of the season in a 4-0 Commonwealth Coast Conference win against the University of New England as the Rams celebrated their four graduating seniors Saturday afternoon at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 4 | University of New England 0
RECORDS: Suffolk (7-4-2, 2-1-1 CCC) | University of New England (0-11-2, 0-4-0 CCC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk opened the scoring in the second minute when sophomore Tommy Handelsman lobbed a throw in from the right sideline into the box where freshman Carter Van Buskirk netted the ball into the back-left corner of the net.  

The Rams added another goal to their tally in the two minutes later when Van Buskirk sent a ground pass up the middle of the offensive zone to sophomore Brady Sorensen, who dribbled into the box and sent a right-footed shot into the back-right corner of the goal.

Suffolk scored its third goal of the opening half when Handelsman recovered a loose ball outside of the box and sent a flailing leg kick past the goalie into the back-right corner of the net.

The blue-and-gold found the net for the fourth time of the opening set of 45 minutes and day after a give-and-go from sophomore Taj Jensen and sophomore Damon Smargon in the midfield that led to sophomore Dominic Rinaldi breaking free down the right side of the pitch for a right-footed shot that worked its way to the back-left corner of the twine.  

There was less action in the second half as neither team managed to punch its way on the scoreboard.  

NETMINDER NOTES

• Xander Balog finished with his sixth shutout of the season behind a four-save effort. 
• Triston O'Hagan stopped six shots on goal for the Nor'Easters. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Handelsman and Van Buskirk each recorded one assist and one goal to the four-goal offense.
• Rinaldi and Sorensen each found the back of the net once. 
• Smargon and Jensen dished out one assist apiece. 
• Suffolk held the advantage in shots, 21-12, and shots on goal, 10-4. 
• UNE had more corner kick opportunities than Suffolk, 4-3. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk remains unbeaten all-time against the University of New England, 2-0-0. 
• The Rams hosted the Nor'Easters for the first time in program history. 
• Suffolk shutout the Nor'Easters for the first time in the all-time series. 
• The Rams have outscored the Nor'Easters 9-3 all-time. 
• Both battles between Suffolk and UNE have come under Bill Maddock's guidance. 
• Suffolk shutout its sixth opponent of the season. 
• Rinaldi scored his first collegiate goal. 
• Handelsman found the back of the net for first time in the season, second for his career.
• Sorenson notched his third goal on the year, second-best for the Rams.
• Van Buskirk netted his team-leading fourth goal.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk heads across town to take on Wentworth Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.