Box Score
SAINT LEO, Fla. – Max Geisthovel scored a pair of first-half goals to lead the offensive charge as No. 17 Saint Leo University handed the Eckerd College men's soccer program a shutout loss on the road Saturday afternoon, 4-0.
SLU's Javeim Blanchette and Matt Campbell also netted goals five minutes apart in the second half for the Lions (5-1-0, 0-0-0 SSC) on their home field. Geisthovel also added an assist during his team's final score midway through the second half.
The Tritons (2-3-2, 0-0-0 SSC) aimed to sustain momentum in the recent series history between both teams after tipping Saint Leo in overtime during the regular season and in the quarterfinals of the SSC Tournament last year.
But thanks to a 17-4 shot advantage, the Lions held the upper hand this time around as steady rains fell on the pitch.
Eckerd senior goalkeeper
Toni Virtanen saved nine of the Saint Leo shots fired against him, but a stingy Lions' defensive effort ultimately kept the Tritons off the scoreboard.
Virtanen made five saves in the first half and four more in the final period, respectively.
Geisthovel scored in the fifth minute of regulation off a designed set piece. He gave the Lions extra cushion heading into halftime by striking again six minutes before the intermission and doubled his season goal total with four.
Blanchette also has four goals on the season to share the Lions' team lead following today's match after he found an open look in the net at the 54:06 mark in the second half.
Junior forward
Matt Dolan and sophomore forward
Mitchell Metzger each had shots on goal against SLU goalkeeper Manuel Schoenhuber. Schoenhuber was credited with a pair of saves in the shutout effort for Saint Leo.
Today's match was another contest in the continuation of the "Plus Four" scheduling. Eckerd, currently ranked 10th in the NSCAA South Region rankings, previously faced Barry University and No. 3 Rollins College with no bearing on the Sunshine State Conference standings this fall.
The Tritons will conclude the "Plus Four" part of the regular-season schedule to begin the month of October next Tuesday at the University of Tampa. Eckerd and the Spartans will get underway at 7 p.m. under the lights.
