GAME DAY INFORMATION DATE: Sept. 20, 2022 LOCATION: Brian Kelly '83 Stadium, Worcester, Mass. GAME DAY LINKS LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

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THE LEAD
The New Haven men's soccer team will hit the road for the third time this season as they begin their two-game road trip with a stop in Worcester to take on the Greyhounds of Assumption University. The Chargers look to pick up their first win of the season and climb the conference standings with a win at Ronald J. Abdow Field on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 7:00 P.M.

SERIES HISTORY VS ASSUMPTION
This will be the 33rd time these two NE10 programs will clash as New Haven holds the lead in the series with a 18-12-2 all-time record against the Greyhounds. The two last met on Oct. 27, 2021 in a victorious 3-1 effort for the Chargers, beginning a three game win streak to end the regular season. Assumption and New Haven have a long standing history, dating back all the way to Oct. 10, 1962 when the Chargers took the inaugural game with a commanding 7-1 win on the road. When hosted by the G'Hounds, New Haven holds an 8-7-1 record.

SCOUTING THE CHARGERS (0-4-2)
The record may not reflect it but Chargers have played tough this season, having lost by no more than a goal in any of their games. Their last time on the pitch was against the American International Yellow Jackets on Saturday for New Haven's second conference match. 

Over the span of six games, the defense has only allowed six goals for a 1.00 average goals against, which ranks seventh in the conference.

The two goals on the season have been scored by Tyler Pereira (Fairhaven, Mass./Fairhaven) in the home opener against Bridgeport and Guillem Barnils (Barcelona, Spain/Escola Pia Nostrasenyora) in the loss to Dominican. Only one assist has been registered on the year, credited to Dante Polletta (Prospect, Conn./Woodland Regional) on Pereira's goal.

Up to now, the Chargers have outshot opponents, 80-56, while also recording more shots on goal, 32-29. New Haven tallied a season-high 21 shots in the draw against AIC on Saturday while the defense limited the Yellow Jackets to a season-low four shots.

Sophomore goalkeeper Themis Kastoris (Gothenburg, Sweden/Kitas Gymnasiet) has racked up 22 saves and a .786 save percentage to start the year, sixth and ninth in the NE10, respectively. Kastoris kept the Yellow Jackets off the board for his second shutout of the season, stopping the one shot on goal he was faced with.

Out of all 18 Chargers who have attempted one or more shots, Barnils holds the lead for shots taken with ten while Polletta, Alexander Gunnarsson (Kopavogur, Iceland/Verzlenarskoli Islands), and Vincenzo Lombardo trail with eight.

New Haven, who was voted seventh in the 2022 NE10 preseason coaches' poll with 59 points, is currently ranked 10th in the conference standings.

SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS (3-1-1)
Coming off a 3-11-2 season in the 2021 campaign, the Assumption Greyhounds were ranked 12th in the 2022 NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll with 25 points. While only five games into the season and the G'Hounds have already tied their win total from year ago, following a 4-2 conference win over American International last Wednesday.

The Greyhounds were led to victory in their last time on the pitch by freshman forward Gustaf Vilgot Albert, who scored a pair of goals while recording an assist, as well. His performance was enough to award him NE10 Rookie of the Week honors for week three but the freshman from Sweden was also highlighted on ESPN, where his game-winning bicycle kick goal was ranked number three on SportsCenter's Top 10.

Vilgot Albert is not the only one to be recognized by the NE10 as freshman midfielder Daniel Paulsson was named NE10 Rookie of the Week the week prior. Paulsson scored his first collegiate goal during the Greyhounds 3-1 win over Bentley last week, which ended up being the game-winner for Assumption. 

The pair has led the Assumption offense this season, combining for 13 points on five goals and three assists. Vilgot Albert's three goals are tied for sixth in the conference while his two assists are tied for fourth.
Graduate Ruben Faria has also been instrumental in the offense's success as he has tallied one goal and four assists so far this season, the latter ranking second in the NE10.

Johannes Sundgot, who has two goals to his name this season, trails only Vilgot Albert in shots taken with 16. The Greyhounds have outshot opponents 88-66 with a .364 shots on goal percentage. The team's 10 goals and 27 points on the campaign both rank fifth most in the conference.

Senior goalkeeper George Dixon IV has started four of the team's five games between the posts for the G'Hounds, where he has allowed four goals while racking up 17 saves. Dixon's 17 saves currently rank eighth in the NE10 among all goalkeepers while his .810 save percentage ranks seventh.

Assumption boasts a very diverse roster, comprised of 26 players. The roster is broken down into six freshman, seven sophomores, seven juniors, four seniors and two graduate students.

UP NEXT
New Haven will stay on the road, traveling further north to take on the reigning conference champs, the Franklin Pierce Ravens. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 6:00 P.M. on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Sodexo Field in Rindge, N.H.