Knights Defeat Fighting Saints of St. Joe's (VT)
Fisher-Byrne and Netwon Help Knights to 1-0 in YSCC
RUTLAND, VT- The men's soccer team went on the road Saturday afternoon to take on in-state and Yankee Small College Conference rival College of St. Joseph's. The Knights used a strong offensive attack, taking advantage of a first-half red card ejection by St. Joe's, to snag a 2-1 victory in their first conference contest of the season.
The Knights of Vermont Tech traveled to Rutland, Vermont for their first YSCC tie of the year on Saturday, September 8th. The College of St. Joseph's (VT) was there waiting for them, and both teams knew the tie would be tough, as both had similar results against the commom oppoent of UMPI to start their seasons. Hannes Fisher-Byrne (Jr./Strafford, VT) helped the Knights jump on top less than half way through the first period, opening up the scoring at the 20:25 mark.
Shortly after the first goal of the game a yellow card was issued to St. Joe's Duclido Dju, which was followed only ten minutes later by by another yellow and an ejection from the game at 33:02. This, however, did not deter the Fighting Saints from attacking as they netted a goal at 38:51 to match the Knights on the scoreboard.
As halftime neared, both teams fought and attacked the goal until Wellington Newton (Burlington, VT) used the numbers advantage given to the Knights by the St. Joe's ejection to score the goal that put VTC up for good at 43:57. The assist was given to Olivier Durand (Port Au Prince, Haiti).
The second half was a barrage of shots by both teams, but the netminders did their jobs extremely well by not allowing anything by them. Nate James (Sr./Arlington, VT) was solid in net for the Knights, facing 17 shots, although only six on goal and saving five.
The men are now 1-1, 1-0 and next play Fisher College of Boston, MA on Sunday, September 9th at 3pm.
