SPARKILL, N.Y. – After a week in which they played two nationally ranked opponents at home, the Millersville men's soccer team took a long road trip to New York and earned a 1-0 road win at St. Thomas Aquinas College. A torrential downpour of rain arrived midway through the first half of play but the Marauders weathered the storm both literally and figuratively, keeping a clean sheet for only the third time this season.

Freshman Bobby Wells scored the only goal of the game to secure the victory for Millersville.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
• Millersville goalkeeper Darian McCauley was called upon to make two critical saves early to deny the Spartans, one from Jorge Mazariego just 20 seconds into the game, then another in the 2^nd minute after Lachlan Wilkinson snuck behind the defense and had a look at goal.

•  After a downpour of rain began midway through the first half, Bob Hennessey was able to sprint behind the Spartan defense in the 32^nd minute and earn a great look at goal. The shot was barely parried away by St. Thomas Aquinas goalkeeper Martin Ek Asheim and the game remained scoreless.

•  Millersville came out in attack mode in the second half and earned a corner kick in the 52^nd minute. Spencer Shortt trotted over to the corner flag and delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post. Bobby Wells rose up and headed the ball down at a sharp angle to bounce the ball into the net for the first goal of the game.

•  The Marauders almost added an insurance goal in the 79^th minute. Matteo Adiletta got free on the right wing and sent a low cross into the box. The goalkeeper could not get it cleanly and the ball rebounded to Anthony Calamia, who struck it well, but the keeper recovered just in time to keep the ball out of the goal.

POST GAME REACTION FROM HEAD COACH STEVE WIDDOWSON
• On today's performance: "It was a very poor performance. There was very little fight about us and even less quality and in the end we were lucky to leave with a win under our belts."

• On the message to the team at halftime: "At half time I just asked for some passion and intensity. Mistakes are going to be made and that's fine but I should never have to question a Millersville team's work-rate and desire. That should always be there and this team needs to find their passion and let it out."

• On scoring the first set piece goal of the season: "Set piece goals are always useful and it was good for Bobby Wells to get a goal in his comeback game. We talk about areas to exploit on set pieces and today it came off for us. We do work on them occasionally but at the end of the day it's about execution and desire to score by getting into the right areas."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
•  Millersville out-shot St. Thomas Aquinas 14-7 (8-2 in the second half) and held the advantage 5-3 in corner kicks.
•  Bobby Wells' goal was his first of the season and first of his collegiate career.
•  Two freshmen, Frank Astarita and Bob Hennessey, led the Marauders in shots with three apiece.
•  Marauders goalkeeper Darian McCauley was credited with three saves.
•  Senior Jacob Gosselin did not score a goal for only the second time this season.

NOTES
•  It was only the second time the two schools have played each other and the first time Millersville has earned a victory over St. Thomas Aquinas. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw through two overtime periods in 2018.
•  Millersville's overall record moves to 4-3-1 (2-0-1 in PSAC play.)

UP NEXT
•  The Marauders remain on the road for a matinee match at Shepherd University on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m.