AXEL WHEELS SAINTS TO

LIBERTY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

 

Nov. 5: The St. Lawrence University Men's Soccer team is NCAA Tournament bound again after upsetting top seeded Union College 2-1 to win the 2005 Liberty League Men's Soccer Championship.

 

Junior midfielder Axel Galeano scored both goals as the Saints snapped Union's nine game winning streak and secured an automatic birth into the NCAA Tournament. The Saints come out firing, scoring a goal in the first two minutes of the game. Galeano, from Queens, NY, received a long cross from the left side, drilling it past the low far post from 15 yards out at 1:34. With 10 minutes left in the first half, Galeano scored again, beating the keeper, one-on-one from five yards out.

 

Union got on the board when Wade Cheatham connected with one of his three attempts on goal in the 48th minute of regulation.  Both teams had 20 shots on the day, and St. Lawrence had a 7-3 corners advantage.

 

Rob Kramer had 11 saves for Union, while first year student Emilio Colletta had three saves on the day for the Saints.

The Saints will find out their tournament destiny when the NCAA bids are announced.

 

SAINTS KEEP SEASON ALIVE,

DOWN HAMILTON 1-0

Nov. 4: Leadership has been the key to success for Bob Durocher's men's soccer team every year that he's been here. The year 2005 has been no different.

 

Senior co-captain Gil Schaper headed a cross from senior Nick Mangee on the left side that got past Hamilton goaltender Anthony Carello to break a 0-0 tie in double overtime and lead the Saints to the Liberty League Championship game tomorrow.

 

St. Lawrence and Hamilton played to a 0-0 draw at Sandy MacAllaster Field on September 24th, 2005. The two rivals, both always playing tough against the other, played a total of 227 minutes of scoreless soccer before Schaper scored his second goal of the season Friday.

 

The shots between the two teams were almost even, with St. Lawrence holding a slight edge at 25-22. The Saints also held the edge in corners, 8-6. First Year student Emilio Coletta made 9 saves in 117:17 to earn the shutout for the Saints, while Carello played a solid game in goal for Hamilton, accumulating 10 saves on the day.

 

The Saints will play top seeded Union, who defeated Skidmore 5-0 at 2:00pm on Saturday, November 5th.

 

SIX SAINTS EARN LIBERTY LEAGUE

ALL-STAR STATUS

 

Nov. 3: Steve Watson, Elliot Savitz, Axel Galeano, Brendan Tougher, Gil Schaper, and Chris Lonegan all earned Liberty League recognition in voting that was done by the coaches.

 

First Team

 

Senior Steve Watson has scored 4 goals this season, including 1 game winner, and added an assist for 9 points on the year. His versatile play in the backfield helped the Saints finish second in the Liberty League. Watson's ability to control the tempo and pace of the game, as well as his strength winning balls, have helped him have a successful career at SLU. He started all 14 games he played in this year, including all 7 Liberty League contests.

 

Elliot Savtiz has started every game this season and has recorded 5 goals, and 4 assists for 14 points, including 2 game winners. He ranks in the league in points, points per game, goals, assists, and assists per game. His consistent leadership from the middle of the field has been a staple during his years at SLU.

 

Second Team

 

Axel Galeano has been a powerful force for the Saints this season, winning balls and taking ownership of the front line for SLU. He has 2 goals and has started 14 of 16 games for St. Lawrence.

 

Brendan Tougher has been a consistent force in the backfield for the Saints. He scored 2 goals on the year, and his ability to stop the attack and win balls is extremely valuable. Tougher has started every game this season.

 

Honorable Mention

 

Gil Schaper has started every game for SLU and has provided a goal and an assist in addition to his senior leadership.

 

Chris Lonegan scored 3 goals and added 3 assists on the year, including a game winner. His effective passing and ability to finish have helped SLU to success.