Top-Seeded USJ claims 2024 GNAC Men's Soccer Title; Punches Ticket to NCAA's

Recap courtesy of the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) Athletic Communications Department

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The top-seeded University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's soccer team defeated the third-seeded Johnson & Wales University (JWU) Wildcats, 2-1, in a thrilling Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship game in front of a packed crowd at the USJ Soccer Field Saturday afternoon in West Hartford, Conn. It marked the second GNAC Championship in men's soccer program history and the 13th overall GNAC title in USJ school history across all sports. With the victory, the Blue Jays improved to 14-4-3 overall on the 2024 season and earned the league's automatic qualifier into the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship. JWU concluded its campaign 15-3-3 overall after making its third straight and 16th overall GNAC Championship game appearance in its final season in the conference.

USJ's graduate student midfielder Henry McGarrah V (Hartford, Conn.), junior defender Nicholas Simpson (Mansfield, Conn.), sophomore defender Ryan Riviezzo (Wolcott, Conn.) and freshman goalkeeper Will Slayton (Manchester, Conn.) were named to the GNAC All-Tournament Team, while senior forward Dane Stephens (Linstead, Jamaica) was named the GNAC Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP).

All-Tournament Team

Albertus Magnus - Aiden Coelho, Gabriel Paglia

Emmanuel - Rafael Matamoros, Josh Huckans

Johnson & Wales - Aidan Bagley, Carlos Andrade, Bruno Teixeira

University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) - Henry McGarrah V , Nicholas Simpson, Ryan Riviezzo, Will Slayton, Dane Stephens (MVP)

KEY MOMENTS

• Both the Blue Jays and Wildcats could not find the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes, as Slayton produced numerous fine saves to maintain the deadlock.
• USJ found the breakthrough at the 58:37 mark, after freshman midfielder Elis Sulollari (Cheshire, Conn.) slid a through ball down the right flank to Stephens, who cut into the box and slotted the ball past the outrushing JWU goalkeeper, establishing a 1-0 USJ lead.
• The Blue Jays scored a crucial insurance goal at the 80:53 mark, as McGarrah V fired a shot from close range into the net, increasing the gap to 2-0.
• The Wildcats would quickly answer back at the 83:30 mark , as Bruno Teixiera chipped Slayton, to cut the deficit to one, 2-1.
• However, the Blue Jays defense stood strong, denying JWU an equalizing goal to win the 2024 GNAC Championship, 2-1.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• McGarrah V netted his team-leading 13th goal of the season.
• Stepehens recorded his tenth goal.
• Slayton played all 90 minnutes in net, picking up the win (11-1-3) after recording five saves.

UP NEXT

Men's soccer earns the league's automatic qualifier into the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship. The Blue Jays will learn their opening opponent during the NCAA Selection Show, which is set to air live on Monday, November 11 at 1:30 p.m. on www.NCAA.com.

ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 21 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

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