LOUDONVILLE, NY - Goals came at anything but a premium for Siena Men's Soccer on Saturday evening. In the team's final non-conference bout against the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Highlanders, the Saints laid down a 3-0 shutout victory over their America East counterparts on Hickey Field.
With its three goals, Siena (2-3-3) matched its season total in just a 90 minute span.
Cole Hellert delivered the game-winner in the 28th minute, while
Olafur Freysson ('36), and
Mario Navarro Perez ('71) added the insurance.
Dren Dobruna assisted on Hellert's goal, giving him his second of the season in back-to-back contests.
The sides finished even on shots, 14-14, while Siena had the upper hand on-goal, 7-3.
Bennet Glinder made a pair of saves with one NJIT shot on target going down as a Siena team save. His counterpart, Devin Armstrong, made three stops while the Highlanders also had a team save.
NJIT (3-4-1) put up 11 shots in the second half after a quiet first. Six of the Highlanders' 14 shots came from Asembo Augo, who had six including two on target.
Following a series of shots earlier in the 22nd and 24th minutes by Navarro Perez and
Zach Gardner, respectively, Hellert was able to break through in the 28th. Off Dobruna's pass, Hellert split a pair of defenders and beat Armstrong to the left side of the net for a 1-0 edge and his first of the year.
Not long after, Freysson was awarded a penalty kick which he capitalized on to extend Siena's lead to 2-0, which the team would take into the half.
Despite playing a man-down the entire second half due to a red card on Matt Moran, NJIT still managed to fire off 11 shots and three on-goal over the final 45 minutes of play. However, it would be the Saints who came through on what was their lone shot on goal of the half.
After a change of possession in NJIT's offensive zone, Navarro Perez received a clear and, much like Hellert in the first, beat three Highlander defenders to send in a clean look to the bottom left of goal for the finishing touches.
The Saints are set to open up MAAC action next Saturday, September 28 at home against Saint Peter's. Kickoff from Hickey Field is set for 4 p.m. following the conclusion of Siena Women's Soccer's home league match against Fairfield.
