Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – An early goal and stellar defensive play led the Susquehanna men's soccer team to a 1-0 shutout of Landmark Conference opponent Moravian on Saturday afternoon.

Joey Stellato (Convent Station, N.J./Morristown) provided the offense for the Crusaders, who reached double-digit wins on the season (10-5, 5-1).

Susquehanna made sure Stellato's early score stood up with a solid defensive effort. The Mules (5-10-1, 3-2-1) managed only two shots on goal all afternoon, both of which were saved by SU senior goalie B.J. Merriam (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional).

Stellato netted his team-leading fifth goal of the season with 9:07 on the clock. Senior captain Jim Robertiello's cross found Stellato who knocked it into the back of the Moravian net for an early 1-0 SU edge.

The Mules had the final scoring chance of the first half with a shot off the foot of Jeffrey Algor with 1:37 remaining but it sailed high as SU held on to the lead at the midway point.

The teams combined for 13 shots in the second half, with seven coming from the Mules. Merriam picked up his first save on another shot by Algor 10 minutes into the half. Merriam stopped the second and final true scoring threat by Moravian with less than 14 minutes to play.

Robertiello nearly tacked on an insurance goal with nine seconds on a clock but Mules goalie Tim Dollarton made the stop to keep it a 1-0 Susquehanna win.

The shutout was SU's sixth of the season as the Crusaders have now won two in a row and six of their last eight matches.

Next game: Wednesday, Oct. 27 vs. Elizabethtown at 7 p.m.