ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – Rob Poirier (Old Lyme, Conn./Lyme-Old Lyme) broke open a scoreless tie on a penalty kick in the 58th minute as the University of New Haven men's soccer team won its season opener for the second straight year, downing the Molloy Lions 1-0 on Thursday afternoon.

Key Players

·                  After tying for the team lead in goals a season ago, Poirier picked up where he left off with his first tally of the season in the 58th minute.

·                  Stefano Lorusso (Auckland, New Zealand/Sacred Heart College) made five saves, recording the clean sheet in his first collegiate match.

·                  George Tighe (Tauranga, New Zealand/Tauranga Boys College) helped lead the Charger attack with three shots.

How it Happened

·         Each keeper made one save in the first half to send the match scoreless into the break.

·         New Haven tallied the only goal of the match late in the 58th minute when a foul on the Lions led to a penalty kick for Poirier. His strike ticked off the hand of the Molloy goalie and spun into the net.

·         Lorusso made four second half saves, three of them in a four minute span early in the frame.

Turning Point

·         Lorusso made three saves in a stretch of 4:26 within the first 10 minutes of the second half that allowed the Blue and Gold to keep the game scoreless before Poirier's goal.

By the Numbers

·         Poirier's goal was the sixth of his career and his second off a penalty kick. 

·         New Haven won the game, despite being outshot 13-8

Up Next

·         The Chargers will play their home opener on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 6:00 p.m. when they will host Felician in a non-conference match.