Box Score Lafayette Hill, Pa. - (8/31/2017) – A deluge of rain soaked the turf at Victory Field #1 during the start of this afternoon's Chestnut Hill College men's soccer season opener versus #22 Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). The nationally-ranked Penmen scored the first two tallies of the affair, but an athletic effort from senior midfielder Joseph Casaletto (Sewell, N.J.) reduced the difference to just one goal midway (62:17) through the second half. Looking to seize their opportunity at an upset, the Griffins kept the pressure on. Unfortunately, time ran out on the final assault rendering the Penmen a 2-1 victory.

 

After the early downpour, Chestnut Hill College (0-1) and SNHU (1-0) battled up and down the pitch. The Penmen seized the advantage at 17:08, when senior defenseman Michael Rowley (Cooperstown, N.Y.) touched the ball to the oncoming foot of junior forward Alex Satrustegui (San Sebastian de los Reyes, Spain), 1-0. The Griffins answered with assaults from senior forward Zachary Gray (West Sussex, England) and Casaletto, but could not find a way past junior goalkeeper Danny Milton (Ajax, Ontario) in the first half.
 
SNHU added to their advantage early in the second half, when sophomore defenseman Louka Masset (Ajax, Ontario) struck his own rebound to the back of the Griffin goal at 48:24, 2-1.
Unfazed, the Griffins continued to stress the Penmen, forcing the visitors into several fouls before Casaletto headed a SNHU clear past Milton for the Scarlet and Gold's first tally of the season, 2-1 (62:17). The tally stunned the Penmen and with momentum in hand, Chestnut Hill College controlled the remaining clock. Regrettably, the visitors escaped with the one-goal win.
 
Freshman midfielder Tom Marriott (Nottingham, England) led SNHU in shots with four of their 15; four others, including Masset and Satrustegui, recorded two apiece. Milton (1-0) earned the win with three saves.

Casaletto and fellow senior midfielder Vini Brito (Sao Paulo, Brazil) each totaled two shots for Chestnut Hill College. Senior forward Mike Buscemi (Rockville, Md.), juniors Jason Doherty (Letterkenny Donegal, Ireland) and Tales Domingues (Sao Paulo, Brazil), and sophomore Paris Bruhn (Horst Holstein, Germany) all made big plays in the midfield to help them keep the Scarlet and Gold in contention. Sophomore Frank Maniscalco (Philadelphia, Pa.) made four saves in the loss (0-1).
 
The Chestnut Hill College men's soccer team travels to Dobbs Ferry, New York, on Saturday, September 2, to challenge Mercy College in a 4:00 p.m. contest.