St. Lawrence University Athletics

Senior captains Dennis Argueta and Nicholas Petrone scored second-half goals, while Zach Amato made four saves for his fifth clean sheet of the season as the No. 6 St. Lawrence University men's soccer team defeated Skidmore, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon at Sandy MacAllaster Field.

St. Lawrence improved to 7-0-1 overall and 2-0-0 in Liberty League play with the win, while the Thoroughbreds fell to 2-4-2 overall and 0-1-0 in league action.

"It was another good performance from the team today," said head coach Mike Toshack. "It was very difficult against a well-organized Skidmore team, which you'd expect. Brad Campion is an excellent coach and had his team well-prepared and made it difficult for us. We started the game with two really good scoring opportunities that we weren't able to capitalize on, then sort of got away from our game a little bit. But in the second half, the team really came together and showed their class and what they're really about, and really put the opposition under a lot of pressure, which I was very, very happy with. In the end, to get the two goals, keep the clean sheet, and get the three points, I am very delighted. Now we turn our sights to Wednesday and the Route 11 Derby with Clarkson, another team that's playing really well in our league and it's going to be a very, very difficult match, so we have to get turned around really quick."

Both teams generated chances in a scoreless first half. Sammy Bothwell tested Skidmore goalkeeper Rowan McLear twice in the opening five minutes, but McLear made the saves to keep the match level.

Skidmore's best opportunities came midway through the, half, but Amato was equal to the task. The sophomore goalkeeper made three first-half saves, including stops on efforts from Matias Sampedro, Luke Dougherty, and Colin Goodhines, as the teams headed to the break deadlocked at 0-0.



The Saints came out on the front foot in the second half and began to generate sustained pressure. Kyle Reddish, Kenneth Mejia Lopez, Baker Diaz, and Bothwell all created chances as St. Lawrence searched for the breakthrough.

The decisive moment finally arrived in the 63rd minute. Petrone lined up for a dangerous free kick and fired a shot that was saved by an outstretched McLear, but Argueta was there to finish the rebound opportunity and give the Scarlet and Brown a 1-0 advantage. The goal was Argueta's second of the season, while Petrone earned the assist.

St. Lawrence continued to press for an insurance goal and nearly doubled the lead moments later when Argueta struck the left post.

After the Saints weathered a handful of Skidmore chances late in the contest, they finally put the game away in the 89th minute. With the Thoroughbreds pressing, Petrone found a streaking Grant Gilmer and joined in on the 2-on-1. Gilmer unselfishly found Petrone for the tap-in goal and his third goal of the season to extend the lead to 2-0.

Amato closed out the match from there, finishing with four saves to secure the shutout. McLear kept the Thoroughbreds in the game throughout the afternoon and finished with six saves on the eight shots he faced.

The Saints controlled much of the play throughout the afternoon, outshooting Skidmore 18-9 and holding an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal. St. Lawrence also earned four corner kicks, while the visitors did not record one.

The Saints will be back on Sandy MacAllaster Field on Wednesday, September 30, when the team welcomes Route 11 Rival Clarkson to Canton for a 4 p.m. showdown.