Five different St. Lawrence players found the back of the net in the first half of Saturday's men's soccer game, as the Saints defeated Alfred University 5-2 in the second game of the North Country Classic on Sandy MacAllaster Field to improve to 2-0-0 on the year. With the loss, Alfred fell to 0-2-0. 

Seniors Tapshak Augustine, Ryan Crouse, Jethro Dede and Brendan McNamee each scored in the first 27 minutes of Saturday's match against the Saxons, with first-year Ethan Riddell adding his first collegiate goal and the Saints' fifth of the game in the 36^th minute.

It was the first goal of the season for all five players as well, as Charlton Kelly was the lone goal scorer in a 1-0 win on Friday. Augustine finished with a team-best goal and two assists against the Saxons.



Augustine gave the Saints a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute with a blazing shot from 25 yards off a feed from Sam Sapnar that deflected off the hands of Alfred goalkeeper Joe Gonzalez and inside the far post.
Alfred came back and tied the game when Alexander Tostanoski beat senior keeper Mike Smith with a diagonal shot along the pitch in the 17^th minute.

But that tie lasted just under three minutes as the Saints went on to score four unanswered to head into the half with a 5-1 lead.

Crouse's goal came in the 20^th minute when he headed a high deflection off the foot of Kelly at the line and behind Gonzalez, which prompted a goalkeeping change for the Saxons as he was replaced by Andrew Barnikel.

Dede's goal in the 23^rd minute served as the game winner for St. Lawrence, as he took a cross into the box from Brendan McNamee and put a shot into the far lower 90 for a 3-1 lead.

The Saints fourth goal in the 27^th minute came off a great touch pass at the edge of the box by Augustine who put it into space for a hard one-time shot by McNamee sailed past Barnikel inside the near post.

Augustine also set up the Saints' fifth goal, and the first of Riddell's career, with another quick pass into space at the top left corner of the box. Riddell lofted a shot that beat Barnikel, who had come off his line, and just dipped under the crossbar to conclude the St. Lawrence scoring.

Alfred's second goal came just 44 seconds into the second half when Evan Merkey was awarded a penalty kick after a hard tackle by the Saints' in the box. Though Smith guessed right on the attempt diving to his left, it was just past his fingertips and Merkey pushed the score to the final 5-2 margin.

The Saints outshot the Saxons 22-7 on Saturday afternoon, with an 11-3 advantage in shots on goal.

Barnikel made five of Alfred's six saves on the afternoon, while Mike Smith finished with one save in the win for St. Lawrence.

The Saints will travel to Oneonta, New York next weekend for the Oneonta Tournament and face the host Red Dragons on Friday, September 7 at 4 p.m.