Men’s soccer eliminated from playoff contention with loss to Mount St. Mary’s

By Cassandra Ercoli, Sports Reporter

In a pivotal game for Canisius’ playoff hopes, the Golden Griffins fell 1-0 to the Mount St. Mary Mountaineers, eliminating them from playoff and championship contention. 

Prior to Wednesday's meeting, the Mountaineers sat one spot above the Blue and Gold with their conference record of 2–4–1, accumulating seven points on the season. A win against the Mount would have kept the Griffs’ playoff hopes alive, while a tie or loss would have narrowed or eliminated their chance at clinching a playoff spot. 

After a scoreless first forty-five minutes, the Griffs looked to take an early second-half lead when sophomores Romero Nicolazzo and Gianni Angaran connected for a threatening attempt at the top of the box. Mountaineers goalkeeper Julian Marcos got just enough from Angaran’s shot to keep the match in a deadlock. Angaran made two other saves on the night to record his third clean sheet of the season. 

In the 83rd minute, freshman Kiryl Dubins was called for a foul in the box which sent the Mount’s Graham Dougald to the dot. Dougald registered his fifth goal of the season on the penalty attempt, lifting the Mountaineers past the Blue and Gold to improve to 3–4–1 in conference play.

The Griffs recorded eight shots to the Mount’s seventeen. The Mountaineers put nine of their attempts on goal, while Canisius goalkeeper Preston Harold turned away his season-high six shots. 

The Griffs will honor six players on Saturday when they host Merrimack for senior day before closing out their regular season with a Battle of the Bridge matchup against local rival Niagara on Nov. 5, in Lewiston, N.Y.