Box Score CANTON, N.Y. – In a match which featured proven senior goalkeepers, the St. Lawrence University men's soccer team emerged with a 1-0 win over Eastern Connecticut State University on the second day of the Lotto Tournament at MacAllaster Field.
St. Lawrence senior Sean Scott chipped a shot over the charge of Eastern keeper Carl Appel (West Windsor, NJ) ten minutes into the second half for the only goal of the game and SLU senior goaltender Brian Abernethy registered a shutout in his first start since September of 2010.
Scott took a pass from All-America Sam DeMello and worked past an Eastern defender as Appel came off the line to challenge. Scott's chip shot looped over the on-coming defender, landed with overspin and rolled into the net.
It was the eighth Lotto Tournament title in nine tries for No. 22-ranked St. Lawrence, who also edged Eastern by a goal (in overtime) in the 2005 tournament opener. Both teams enjoyed banner seasons last year and won NCAA first-round tournament matches by shutout before losing by a goal in the second round. The unbeaten national champion in 1999, St. Lawrence rode a 17game unbeaten streak to a final record of 17-3-2 a year ago while Eastern went nine matches without a loss through the first round of the NCAA tournament and recorded a final 14-4-3 mark.
Eastern had beaten Clarkson University, 3-0, Saturday behind Appel's 21st career full shutuout and two goals from junior forward Cory Tobler (Portland). The Saints beat College at Oneonta, 3-2, in Saturday's first round. In Sunday's second game, Clarkson trimmed Oneonta, 1-0.
Appel has been a four-year starter in net for Eastern while Abernethy missed most all of 2010 with injury after winning two of his first three decisions by shutout.
Sunday, the Saints outshot the Warriors 18-4 (10-1 in the first half ) and allowed Eastern just one corner kick. Appel came through with seven saves while Abernethy needed only three to gain his fourth career shutout. In the match, the Warriors started nine returnees plus first-year transfers Christopher Giustina (Enfield) and Carl Stensland (Storrs). Similarly, all of St. Lawrence's starters were upperclassmen, five of them seniors.
Tobler, senior back Aaron Smiles (Bedford, MA) and junior midfielder Jon DeCasanova (Glastonbury) represented Eastern on the 12-person all-tournament team. DeMello was selected tournament MVP.
Eastern plays the first of nine scheduled home matches Wednesday at 7 p.m. when it hosts Fitchburg State University at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex. The Warriors routed the Falcons, 5-1, last year at Fitchburg, MA.
