GENESEO, N.Y.-The SUNY Geneseo Men's Soccer team picked up an opening day victory against St. Lawernce on Friday night. Senior midfielder Stefen Nikolic contributed to both goals in the 2-0 victory with an assist and a goal, as the Knights open up the season on a high note.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Senior midfielder Stefen Nikolic found junior forward Dylan Thody on a well-timed through ball that was lofted over the goalkeeper for the Knight's first goal of the season in the 14th minute. Thody's shot bounced off the cross bar and barely across the goal line to give Geneseo the 1-0 lead. 

• Later in the half, senior captain Joe Vogt slid across the box to deny the Saints' forward from equalizing and the Knights took the one goal advantage into halftime.

• Nikolic extended the Knights' lead in the 58th minute on an unassisted header to grab his first goal of the season.  

• Geneseo's senior goaltender Vincent Maronski Jr denied a powerful outside-of-the-box shot attempt in the 72nd minute to maintain a two-goal lead. The Knights' defense remained tough and held the Saints to an opening-day shutout.   

QUICK FACTS 

• The Knights's win over St. Lawrence marked the first season-opening win since the 2019 campaign.  

• Geneseo has held the Saints scoreless in the past two opening-day matches (0-0 tie in 2023).  

• A pair of first-year players, Ali Shabani and Alfonso Vito, started in their first collegiate game and made an impact with their abilities to create opportunities on the field. 

• During the game, Geneseo created more scoring chances through 90 minutes, outshooting St. Lawerence 7-5.  

What's Next:  

The Geneseo Knights will travel to Saratoga Springs on Saturday, September 7th, to take on Skidmore College at 3 PM.