KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Oct. 22, 2024) – A goal in the fifth minute by junior Billy Castoro (Garden City, N.Y.) proved to be all that was needed, but the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's soccer team tacked on two more late in the second half of its annual 142 Game and defeated conference rival SUNY Maritime by a 3-0 margin. USMMA improved to 9-5-2 (6-2-2 Skyline), while SUNY Maritime fell to 7-3-5 (3-2-4 Skyline).
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Junior Jack Ouellette (Alexandria, Va.) and sophomore Andrew Jung (Fairfax, Va.) each added a goal to help lead USMMA. For Ouellette, it was his first collegiate goal. Sophomore Patrick Novotny (Fort Worth, Texas) collected two assists and classmate Ethan Howell (Alexandria, Va.) made three saves to earn the shutout.
The Mariners capitalized on their first scoring chance of the game in just the 6th minute. After a corner kick from senior Derek Vanasse (Camarillo, Calif.) was unsuccessfully cleared, Novotny gained possession and touched the ball out wide to the left. Junior Michael Hofstetter (Deer Park, N.Y.) then centered the ball back into the box for Castoro, who headed it home for a 1-0 lead.
USMMA missed wide on its next two shots and had another attempt blocked before Vanasse had a shot saved in the 22nd minute. After senior Wes Ferry (Newport, N.C.) had a shot blocked in the 24th minute, the Privateers blocked three more USMMA shots and the game remained 1-0 at halftime.
The Mariners nearly extended their lead in the 48th minute as Novotny had a shot saved by the keeper before a rebound attempt by junior Drew Boukidis (Charlotte, N.C.) was cleared off the line by a defensive save.
SUNY Maritime, meanwhile, was held without a shot until the 53rd minute when Howell was forced to make a save.
After senior Jason Healey (King George, Va.) had a shot saved in the 55th minute, Howell denied a header attempt in the 61st minute for his second save of the game.
The Mariners earned an insurance goal in the 70th minute. A deep throw-in from Vanasse was headed down by a defender and ended up at the feet of Novotny, who had an attempt from the top of the box blocked. The loose ball found Ouellette, who ripped a shot that caromed off the bottom of the crossbar and past the goal line for a 2-0 lead.
USMMA then took advantage of its very next opportunity and made it 3-0 in the 75th minute. After a SUNY Maritime turnover just inside of midfield, Jung won a foot race down the left side to reach the ball as it headed towards the goal. The keeper came out to cut off the angle and Jung tucked a shot into the wide-open right corner.
Howell made one more save in the 82nd minute to preserve the shutout.
The Mariners conclude regular season action at home with a Senior Day matchup against Mount St. Vincent on Saturday, Oct. 26, at noon down at Bartoszek Field.
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