Teaneck, N.J. - The Stony Brook men's soccer team opened the 2012 season with a strong 5-0 win over Fairleigh Dickinson Friday night at University Stadium. Seniors Berian Gobeil Cruz (Montreal, Quebec), Antonio Crespi (North Babylon, N.Y.) and freshman Alejandro Fritz (Budapest, Hungary) scored goals for the Seawolves.
In addition to the three goals scored, the Seawolves also benefitted from two FDU own goals. The five goals match the program's Div. I record, last set on Sept. 11, 2005 against Philadelphia.
The match against Fairleigh Dickinson is a strong win for the Seawolves in what was the first of nine matches against teams that produced a 100 RPI or better in 2011.
"I thought our pressure was good tonight, and, as a result, we were able to create some good chances and score some good goals," Anatol said. "I think we have some room for improvement on our attack with regard to spacing and we need to continue to get better, but overall it was a good win and a good performance."
The Seawolves, who averaged 1.6 goals per game last season, quickly showed off their offensive firepower as Fritz connected on his first collegiate shot in the seventh minute of the match. He hit the ball to the bottom right corner of the net well past Knights goalkeeper Jacob Lissek to put SB on top 1-0.
The Knights threatened to tie, but Seawolves goalkeeper Carlos Villa (Caracas, Venezuela) made four first-half saves.
Stony Brook tacked on a second first-half goal in the 40th minute. First, senior Leonardo Fernandes (North Babylon, N.Y.) took a hard shot that Lissek stopped. SB maintained possession, and Gobeil Cruz took a pass from freshman Sverre Ofstad (Oppegaard, Norway) and slammed it into the right corner past Lissek for a 2-0 lead.
In the second half, Stony Brook stonewalled Fairleigh Dickinson's offense, allowing just four shots, none of which were on goal. Jack McVey came the closest to scoring, hitting the crossbar in the 61st minute.
Crespi made the score 3-0 when he took a pass from Fernandes while slipping past a defender and blasted it past Lissek.
Stony Brook added two own goals late in the match, thanks to great high ball pressure that forced FDU mistakes in the defensive zone.
The Seawolves finished the night with 16 shots, 13 of them on goal, led by Gobeil Cruz's four shots. Villa finished the night with four saves to earn his first clean sheet in an SB uniform.
Stony Brook will return to action Tuesday afternoon at Villanova at 4 p.m.
