Despite the first career goal by freshman Mason Petrucci and the second goal of the season by junior Ely Sidibe, the Canisius men’s soccer team played to a 2-2 draw at Stonehill Friday afternoon at Skyhawk Field in Easton, Mass.
The tie moves the Golden Griffins’ 2023 record to 0-2-1, while Stonehill moved to 0-1-2 with the result.
GAME RECAP
Stonehill took an early 1-0 lead in the game’s 16th minute after Jacob Woznicki put a shot on frame and into the back of the goal past Canisius goalkeeper Jack Petrie. The Griffs would knot the game at 1-1 exactly 17 minutes later on the clock, as Petrucci scored his first collegiate marker, an unassisted goal, in the contest’s 33rd minute. The score would remain tied at 1-1 through the remainder of the first half, as the host Skyhawks went to the locker room at intermission holding a 5-2 advantage in shots and a 2-0 advantage in corner kick chances.
In a wide-open second half that featured a total of 25 total shots between the two teams, Canisius took a 2-1 lead in the game’s 55th minute on the power of Sidibe’s second goal of the campaign. That goal, an unassisted tally, gave Canisius its first second-half lead of the season. The Blue and Gold would hold on to that lead until the game’s 82nd minute, when Stonehill’s Shane Fonseca tied the contest at 2-2 off an assist from teammate Shon Ryan.
In the game’s closing moments, Canisius had a chance to take the lead late, but sophomore Michael Switala‘s shot attempt in the 85th minute was stopped by Stonehill keeper Kyle Tencza. Stonehill made one last push to win the game in regulation time as well, but Petrie, who ended the contest with eight saves on the day, stopped a shot by Ryan as time expired.
Stonehill ended the contest with 19 shots, 14 of which came in the second half, while Canisius recorded 13 shots, 11 of which came after intermission. Stonehill ended the day with a 5-1 advantage in corner kick opportunities.
GAME NOTES
• Friday marked the second time Canisius and Stonehill have met on the pitch. Last season, the Griffs defeated the Skyhawks 1-0 at the Demske Sports Complex.
• Canisius has now scored multiple goals in back-to-back games for the first time since Aug. 27 and Aug. 31, 2018.
• Petrie’s eight saves in the contest are a new career-high. He mad seven stops against Cleveland State in the team’s home opener Aug. 28 – his first career start.
• Both of Sidibe’s career goals have come this season.
UP NEXT
The men’s soccer team will close out its Labor Day holiday weekend road trip on Monday, Sept. 4, when the team plays at Central Connecticut State. Game time in New Britain, Conn., is set for 1 p.m.
For complete coverage of Canisius men’s soccer, follow the Griffs @GriffsSoccer on both X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
