Men's Soccer Shuts Out Hartford 1-0

The Central Connecticut men's soccer team won its first game of the season, 1-0, over the University of Hartford on Tuesday night.  The game was played at Willow Brook Park.  The shutout is the first of the year for junior goalkeeper Anthony Occhialini.

The Blue Devils scored in the first seconds of the second half, on the first goal of the season from junior Reece Wilson.  Wilson took a pass from classmate Thomas Obasi, who made a run down the right side of the field, fed Wilson and the junior from London beat Hartford keeper Luke Citrinini for the game's only goal.

Occhialini made four saves to record his first shutout.  None were bigger than one in the game's final minute, when he stifled the Hawks just two feet in front of the goal.  The stop preserved the shutout and gave the Blue Devils their first victory of the season.

The game was physical and played in a pouring rain for the entire night.  The two teams combined for 22 fouls and five yellow cards.

The Blue Devils controlled much of the first half, and held a slight 8-7 advantage in shots.  Each team had a pair of shots on goal before the break.

Central wasted little time in the second half scoring the goal.  It was their first tally of the season, and it came just 24 seconds into the period.  The Hawks would threaten a pair of times in the half, including in the game's final minute.

With a great scoring chance with just over a minute to play, Occhialini stopped the point blank shot to the left side of the goal, and scored the shutout.  He has now allowed only a pair of goals in 180 minutes of action and is 1-1.

Central will play again on Friday night, at Army, beginning at 7 p.m.