KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Sept. 17, 2022) – The USMMA Mariners men's soccer team won its second straight match with a 3-1 win over the Baruch Bearcats on Saturday night. Merchant Marine closed out Homecoming Weekend 2022 with a solid defensive effort that saw the Mariners only allow one shot on goal. With the victory, USMMA improved to 3-2-2 while Baruch dropped to 1-5.
 
Game Links

• Box Score
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Clayton Ecalono 

In what was a tightly-played defensive game on both ends, only one shot attempt was taken between the two teams in the first 27 minutes. The Mariners broke the ice at the 38:08 mark when freshman Clayton Ecalono (Pleasant Grove, Utah) ripped home a failed clear off of a blocked shot to score his second tally in as many games. USMMA headed into the locker room up 1-0 without having allowed a shot attempt from the Bearcats.
 
Merchant Marine's strong defensive play continued into the second half and quickly led to offense. A brilliant lead pass out of the midfield by freshman Drew Boukidis (Matthews, N.C.) sprung junior Miguel Millan (Lake Travis, Texas) in on goal. Millan dangled around Baruch goalkeeper Kellen Sela to double the Mariners' lead to 2-0 with 40:37 remaining.
 
A quick tally off of a corner by John Ananoria for Baruch at the 74:26 mark made the Mariners fasten their seatbelts for the final stretch. Ananoria's goal would be the only shot on net the Mariners would allow all night.
 
Leading 2-1 late, USMMA got a gift off a corner of their own, as freshman Jack Ouellette's (Alexandria, Va.) kick from the near side was misdirected off the head of a leaping Bearcats' defender and found the twine at the far post. The own goal restored USMMA's two-goal lead with 8:30 on the clock.
 
Merchant Marine's defense closed out the 3-1 win and non-conference play on a high note. The Mariners will now look ahead to their Skyline Conference-opener on Wednesday night, Sept. 21, when they host the Old Westbury Panthers at 7 p.m. at Bartoszek Field. Live stats and a live video feed of the game will be available with links on the USMMA Men's Soccer Schedule Page.
 
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