Potsdam, N.Y.- Daniel Medina tallied his first score of the year, less than 30 seconds after coming off the bench, as the Clarkson University Men's Soccer team gained a 1-0 victory over SUNY Canton, Wednesday evening.
The Golden Knights win their third straight, improving to 3-0-1. The team travels to Rochester this Saturday to take on RIT in a Liberty League contest scheduled for 2 p.m.
Straight from the opening kickoff Clarkson established their hold on the possession game, keeping the ball well in the mid-third of the field. 21 minutes in, Alper Celik nearly opened the scoring for the Golden Knights, finding himself in a 1v1 with the Canton goalie after some quick passing play, but was unable to get the ball past the onrushing Jason Vela, who was determined to keep the scoreline notched at zero. Not long after, in the 27th minute, Medina would provide the breakthrough following a ball out to the right wing for Noah Partenza to latch onto. Some quick feet from the winger got him past the outside of the Kangaroo defense where he served a low ball on a plate to Medina in the six-yard box for a tap-in finish.
Clarkson continued to threaten throughout the remainder of the half, asking questions of the Canton backline. Morgan Burke would climb above the defense in the 34th minute off a corner-kick routine, but his effort would prove to be straightforward again for Vela. The Golden Knights held a stark, 9-0 advantage in shots in the first half.
As the warm evening sun faded into a cool September night, the second half continued in similar fashion to that of the first. Clarkson continued to control a majority of the ball using relentless, high-pressing to win the ball back from the opposition. Burke would again come close in the second half on a corner routine in the 48th minute. Seemingly unmarked at the back post, the sophomore met another service from Cole Mueller but his header into the ground bounced just over the frame of goal and out of play, keeping the advantage at just one.
The Roos seemed to grow more into the game as the second half continued managing to construct some promising counterattacks. Chris Escobar provided the first shot on goal for the Roos in the 72nd minute, cutting back on his right on the left wing and delivering a driven ball towards the goal that was collected by Carter Kladstrup on the bounce. Clarkson would come ever so close again in the 87th minute as Partenza chased down a ball over the top where he managed to beat Vela, but his touch to the left side of the goal ran wider than the freshman was planning with his shot finding the outside netting of the left side of the goal.
Clarkson posted a 20-3 advantage in shots, 10-1 in shots on goal while also earning eight corners through the contest. Kladstrup would make just one stop in net while continuing to be an anchor for the Golden Knight defense, collecting several long balls and dangerous free kicks for his third shutout of the year. Vela would make nine saves in goal for the Kangaroos.
