Mustangs Take 4-0 Win in Albany

Albany, NY – CMCC Men's Soccer struck early in just the second minute of the match, and put four past the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Panthers in the first half to cruise to the win. The 4-0 victory officially starts conference play for the Mustangs who are seeking their fifth straight YSCC title this season.

Freshman winger Drew Hatala scored what proved to be the game-winning goal after just 1:12. Midfielder Mitch Cameron pounced on a loose ball bouncing through across the pitch, and with his first touch, played a through ball in behind the ACPHS back line. Hatala read the play well and swooped onto it, reaching the ball before the onrushing goalkeeper could clear and sliding it into the net. It was the second straight game with a goal for the Sabattus, ME native.

The Panthers had a chance to tie the game in the 28^th minute. Vincent DeVito served in a well-struck free kick from distance, but the header on the other end from Ian Rathbun bounced away off the post.

Less than two minutes later, Central Maine made them pay by doubling the lead. Matty Waters started the move with a great ball over the top from midfield that Albie Fozard-Oakes ran onto. A little backheel flick dropped it into the path of Daniel Semple, but his shot was blocked. Cameron picked up the rebound and attempted to curl a right-footed effort towards the far post. However, his shot struck Semple in the end and deflected past the wrong-footed Jacob Amaral in net. Semple's momentary discomfort was quickly soothed with the knowledge that he had just picked up his first official goal for the Mustangs.

The freshman from Frodsham, England had a much more traditional finish for his second goal six minutes later. Albany managed to clear the danger after a free kick was delivered into the box, sending a high ball bouncing towards midfield. Centerback and captain Alfie Bashford was on hand to step into a volley, serving a perfect pass behind the defense for Semple. The forward still had a lot to do as it bounced towards the end line, but with the goalkeeper out, he was able to roll a low shot around him and into the side netting for a 3-0 lead.

Yoan Thériault then finished off a fantastic first half with his first career goal. The ACPHS defense was able to wrestle the ball away at the top of the penalty area, but Thériault simply needed one touch to knock it into space before blasting a left-footed shot past the diving keeper. The Terrebonne, QC native had been snakebitten to this point in the season, with several well-struck efforts being saved or just missing the net, but there was no stopping this rocket of a shot into the top corner.

The Mustangs had 17 more attempts in the second half, drawing six saves from Amaral in net. But with another game against Vermont State University-Randolph still to come the next day, the visitors were happy just to manage minutes on the starters' legs and hold on for their second-straight clean sheet victory.

The win was CMCC's 22^nd straight victory in Yankee Small College Conference regular season play, with their last game that they did not pick up a victory being a 1-1 tie on the road against ACPHS back in 2022.