PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (Oct. 22, 2022) – Billy Castoro (Garden City, N.Y.) notched the game-winner in the 48th minute as the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy picked up its fourth-straight victory with a 1-0 triumph on the road at St. Joseph's-Long Island. USMMA improved to 8-4-5 (5-1-4 Skyline), while St. Joseph's-Long Island saw its record go to 6-4-4 (3-3-4 Skyline) with the defeat.
 
Clayton Ecalono (Pleasant Grove, Utah) and Derek Vanasse (Camarillo, Calif.) assisted on the goal, while Chase Miller (Boise, Idaho) stopped a penalty shot as part of a two-save shutout. The Mariners posted a 17-8 advantage in shots and an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks. Josh Lehr made 10 saves in net for the Golden Eagles.
 
The Mariners tested Lehr early and often with Miguel Millan (Lake Travis, Texas) forcing the keeper to make his first save in just the 4th minute. Millan had two more shots saved before a corner kick in the 14th minute set up a header opportunity for Wes Ferry (Newport, N.C.) that was also stopped.
 
The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, were held without a shot until an off-target attempt in the 22nd minute, but the home team had a golden opportunity in the 37th minute as a USMMA yellow card resulted in a penalty kick chance. Miller was up to the task, however, and stopped a shot by James Dacos to keep the game scoreless.
 
Lehr then stopped consecutive shots in the 40th minute and the game remained 0-0 at the break.
 
The decisive goal came quickly for the Mariners in the second half. A Vanasse throw-in was headed on by Ecalono before Castoro headed the ball into the back of the net to put USMMA on top, 1-0, in the 48th minute.
 
Four more saves from Lehr kept the game 1-0 before the Golden Eagles created one final opportunity with two minutes left in the contest. It was Dacos again with the shot, but Miller made his second save to preserve the victory and complete the shutout.
 
USMMA returns to action and concludes the regular season at home on Oct. 25 with a 7 p.m. contest against Purchase. Live stats and a live video feed of the contest will be available with links on the USMMA Men's Soccer Schedule Page.
 
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