Four-Goal Week Earns O’Connell CACC Awards, Jackson Appears On Weekly Honor Roll
New Haven, Conn. – (10/29/2013) – With a hat-trick in Chestnut Hill College’s 3-1 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) victory over Goldey-Beacom College, freshman forward
Charles O'Connell (Secaucus, N.J.) helped the Griffins to a 1-1 week of league play while placing himself on the league’s Weekly Report for the first time this season. Freshman goalkeeper
James Jackson (Sewell, N.J.) also earned recognition, securing his fourth mention on the CACC Men’s Soccer Weekly Report with his second Honor Roll appearance.
On Tuesday, October 22, the hosting Lightning struck first, but a more aggressive Chestnut Hill College (6-9-2, 5-5-1) unit overcame Goldey-Beacom College's initial strike and secured a 3-1 CACC victory with a plethora of first-half corner kick opportunities and a hat-trick from O'Connell. O'Connell's first score tied the contest just before halftime, his second came just ten minutes after intermission, and his third, just four minutes after that, provided the Griffins with breathing room for the final 30 minutes of play. Jackson made three saves in the closing period and four in the game while the rest of the Lightning strikes sailed high, wide, or into a Griffin defender. Junior forward
Channing Couillard (Jacksonville, Fla.) led the Griffins with five shots, but O'Connell was efficient, recording his hat-trick on just four shots.
In the Griffins 2-1 loss at Bloomfield College on Saturday, October 26, Jackson kept the Griffins in contention with a season’s best 17-save performance. O’Connell looked to rally the Griffins against the Deacons 2-0 halftime advantage, but his fourth goal of the week would not be enough to derail the Deacons on their home field.
O’Connell now leads Chestnut Hill College in goals (6) and points (12), while Jackson currently ranks second in the CACC for save percentage (.856), third in goals-against-average (0.97), and fourth in saves (89).
The men's soccer team plays their final CACC contest and season finale at home on Wednesday, October 30, when they host Philadelphia University in a 7:00 p.m. contest.