Blue Devils Defeat St. Francis (PA) on Cavener's Game-Winner

Sophomore Robert Cavener scored his second goal of the season to lift the Central Connecticut men's soccer team (7-6-2, 1-4-1) past St. Francis (PA) (4-10-2, 1-5-1) in a 1-0 game in Loretto, PA. The midfielder put in a header off of a cross from junior Hadji Diop only seven minutes into the game. The Blue Devils stayed tight defensively, only giving up eight shots to the Red Flash, and went on to win 1-0.

Cavener came close to scoring three minutes earlier when his header from senior Yan Klukowski's corner kick was saved. When he capitalized on Diop's pass, Cavener tallied only his second goal of the season, but it was also his second game-winning goal this year. CCSU continued their offensive output in the first half, totaling 10 shots and two corners. St. Francis only recorded three shots and forced junior goalkeeper Paul Armstrong to make one save in the opening period.

The Blue Devils, comforted by their 1-0 lead, played more conservatively in the second half. Central took seven shots and only forced Red Flash goalkeeper Brad Williams to stop one. CCSU pulled out all the stops to get their first NEC win of the season, bringing in senior David Tyrie with only four minutes to play in the game. Tyrie, the Blue Devils' star central defender, has been hampered by a hamstring injury throughout the second half of the season. With the help of Tyrie and the defense, Central left Pennsylvania with a 1-0 victory.

CCSU outshot the Red Flash 17-8 for the game and tallied four corner kicks to St. Francis's three. Armstrong and Williams each recorded four saves in the match.

Central improves to 7-6-2 and 1-4-1 in NEC action. The Blue Devils will next travel to Robert Morris on Sunday November 2 for a 1:00 p.m. game. St. Francis falls to 4-10-2 overall, while holding a 1-5-1 NEC record. The Red Flash will also play on Sunday, hosting Quinnipiac at 1:00 p.m.