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Bears men's soccer shut out Golden Knights, 2-0

Posted 9/23/13

POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's soccer team (6-3) downed Clarkson University (1-5) 2-0 on a chilly Sunday afternoon at Maxcy Turf Field. Forwards Stephen Auyer and Eduardo Figueroa did the …

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Bears men's soccer shut out Golden Knights, 2-0

Posted

POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's soccer team (6-3) downed Clarkson University (1-5) 2-0 on a chilly Sunday afternoon at Maxcy Turf Field. Forwards Stephen Auyer and Eduardo Figueroa did the damage for the Bears.

While the scoreboard didn't tell the whole story in the first half, Potsdam controlled the play during large stretches of the contest. The Bears, wearing their black jerseys, moved the ball precisely between and around the Golden Knights. In the sixth minute, Auyer put Potsdam in front, receiving a long pass from Figueroa and blasting it past Clarkson freshman goalie Michael King. The Bears had a couple other strong chances that sailed wide or high, but the Golden Knights struggled to create a threat of their own. It remained 1-0 at the break.

Three minutes into the second half, senior captain Alessio Vitale sent a ball ahead into the box for Figueroa. King charged out of his goal and narrowly beat Figueroa to it. Clarkson responded nearly a minute later, as freshman forward Tucker Wilcox broke loose for a breakaway. Before he could get a shot away, Wilcox was ridden off the ball by a Potsdam defender and the Bears booted the ball out of danger. The teams traded strong opportunities over the middle of the period, but were thwarted by strong defense or stronger goalkeeping. With 2:23 left, Auyer was pulled down by King inside the box. The Bears were awarded a penalty kick and Figueroa buried it to double the lead and put the game away.

Freshman goalkeeper Nick Davies made two saves to earn his second career shutout. King finished with six stops for Clarkson. The Bears outshot the Golden Knights 14-8 and edged Clarkson 3-2 on corner kicks.

Potsdam opens SUNYAC play next Saturday, when the Bears travel to Plattsburgh to face the Cardinals at 1 p.m.