NEWBURGH, NY – Mount Saint Mary College senior
Tomasz Michalak (Newington, Conn.) picked a good time to break his scoreless streak, netting the game-winner in a 1-0 Skyline Conference victory over SUNY Maritime College on Saturday. The Blue Knights improved to 5-4-1 overall and to 1-2-0 inside the Skyline, while the Privateers dropped to 6-4 (1-2 Skyline).
In the fifth minute, senior
Brian Strock (Wallkill, N.Y.) played a dangerous cross into the box, where freshman
Drew Altieri (Voorheesville, N.Y.) took a slight touch and then shielded the ball from a Maritime defender. Michalak ran on to the loose ball and ripped a shot that found the back of the net. For the senior, it was his first goal since 2006, a streak of 48 games.
The Mount Saint Mary defense put in another strong showing, headed by the efforts of Strock. Sophomore
Ryan Folken (Centereach, N.Y.) and freshman
Connor Brady (Brick, N.J.) was solid all afternoon and junior
Chris Boydston (Highland Mills, N.Y.) did a nice job in his return to the lineup.
Senior
Paul Aries (Nashua, N.H.) needed to make just four saves for his third shutout of the season, but he had a spectacular stop in each half. On a header by sophomore Arthur Melody (East Fishkill, N.Y.) in the 22nd minute, Aries twisted back to deflect the shot above the crossbar for a corner. The senior made another leaping save in the 76th minute, tipping a shot from sophomore Kevin Connolly (Warwick, N.Y.) over the bar.
After collecting three vital points in the Skyline Conference standings, Mount Saint Mary will have a well-deserved week off. They’ll travel to Farmingdale next Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. start.