SCHAPER EARNS LIBERTY LEAGUE CO-OFFENSIVE PERFORMER OF THE WEEK

Gil Schaper earned player of the week honors for his performances last weekend against Hamilton and Hobart. Schaper scored in both games and had the game winning goal against Hamilton.

Schaper continues to be a forceful contribution off the bench for the Saints, scoring 5 goals for 10 points on the year. With two wins last weekend, SLU finishes Liberty League play undefeated. Schaper and his teammates are also ranked 8th in the country.

SAINTS TOP HOBART 5-2; FINISH CONFERENCE PLAY UNDEFEATED

The St. Lawrence men’s soccer team received goals from five different players to hand Hobart College a 5-2 loss in the teams’ final regular season Liberty League soccer match this afternoon at Cozzens Field. The Saints are ranked eighth in the nation and will be the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament on Nov. 5-6.

St. Lawrence senior Ryan O’Dowd started the scoring in the 16th minute with a header off of a cross from classmate Charlie Bour. Just over eight minutes later, a Saints striker got loose in the box and was tripped up by Hobart goalie Ben Tamberella, resulting in a penalty kick. Senior defender Evan Schutt stepped up and buried his shot low into the left corner for a 2-0 lead.

The Statesmen (5-11-0, 2-5-0 Liberty) battled back, creating good scoring opportunities of their own. Awarded a corner kick in the 24th minute, senior Ricky Klotz flicked a driven near post service from junior Micke Subotowicz with his heel to cut the lead to one at the break.

The opening 20 minutes of the second half was even soccer, with both teams having their share of possession. However, St. Lawrence senior Steve Watson made it a two goal game with a header finish off of a long throw from Jason Koshi (left). Koshi added a score of his own eight minutes later to put the game out of Hobart’s reach.

Klotz completed the scoring with his second goal of the game after Subotowicz’s initial breakaway attempt was stopped by Saint goalie Jordan James.

St. Lawrence (13-2-0, 7-0-0 Liberty) outshot the Statesmen 16-11, while both teams earned six corner kicks for the afternoon. This marks just the second time this season the Saints have sacrificed more than one goal in a contest.

Tamberella made two saves for Hobart in goal, while James had a pair of stops for the Saints. Head Coach Bob Durocher added that, “Jordan James and Gil Schaper continued to be very consistent for us. James has been a rock all season, and his numbers prove that. Schaper added goals both days this weekend that were huge for us. He’s been extremely steady off the bench.”

Durocher continued, “I’m really happy for our seniors. As freshman, they finished conference play undefeated, and they were able to go out that way as seniors. This is a great way for them to finish.”

SLU MEN BEST HAMILTON, 2-1;
CLINCH LIBERTY LEAGUE TITLE

The St. Lawrence men’s soccer team beat regionally 5th ranked Hamilton this afternoon to improve their record to 12-2-0 overall, 6-0-0 in the Liberty League. With the loss, Hamilton falls to 9-3-0 overall, 4-2 in conference.

In the 27th minute, Ezequiel Rodrigo (left) scored an unassisted goal to give the Saints the lead. During the 41st minute, Charlie Bogosian booted a pass into the goalie box where Gil Schaper found net on a diving header. One minute later, Hamilton’s Aaron Smith scored on a header from Cy Philbrick.

With the win, Head Coach Bob Durocher’s squad has clinched first place in the Liberty League (formerly the UCAA). The SLU men have won the conference championship every year since the UCAA was formed in 1995.

The Saints, who are ranked 8th nationally, return to action tomorrow at Hobart at 2:00 p.m. for their last Liberty League contest of the year.