Men's Soccer blanks Pine Manor, 3-0; finish 2016 with 8-8-1 record

(Nashua, N.H.) The Rivier University Men's Soccer team wrapped up their 2016 campaign this evening with a resounding 3-0 win over Pine Manor College in a non-conference contest at a chilly Raider Field. The game was originally scheduled for a noon time start at Pine Manor however due to unplayable field conditions; the game was rescheduled and moved to Nashua.

The win gives Rivier an even 8-8-1 overall record. The eight wins are the most that the Men's Soccer program has obtained since 2001.

Sophomore Christopher Buzan (Dunstable, Mass.) got the scoring started in the first half. Senior Alex Armstrong (Wakefield, R.I.) lofted a perfect ball off a corner kick that went over the Pine Manor goalkeeper's outstretched hands and found the head of Buzan who connected for his fourth goal of the season.

With a 1-0 lead at the half, the Raiders added on in the final stanza and once again, Armstrong was in the middle of it. The veteran captain sent a bouncing thru ball inside the 18 where classmate Michael Russo (Lynn, Mass.) one-touched chipped it over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. It was Russo's fifth goal and Armstrong's seventh assist of the season.

Minutes later, freshman Thomas Chmura (Hanover, Mass.) recorded his first collegiate goal as he collected a hard rebound off the crossbar – from a junior Ben Noelk (Georgetown, Mass.) shot outside the 18 – and drilled it into the twine.

Three goals would be all that freshman goalkeeper Collin Deyarmin (Raymond, N.H.) would need as he earned his fourth shutout of the season with a season/career high 13 saves.

Pine Manor managed to snap off 32 shots on the night as only 13 landed on net. Freshman Giovanni Valenzuela (El Paso, Texas) led the Gators with nine shots – four on goal – and sophomore Jose Corrales (El Paso, Texas) registered four shots – three on net – in the loss. Junior goalkeeper Oscar Estrada (North Point, Fla.) stopped three of the six shots he faced between the pipes this evening.

The Raiders will have five full days to prepare for their next contest, a Great Northeast Athletic Conference Quarterfinal matchup with second seeded Norwich University on Saturday afternoon in Northfield, Vermont. Pine Manor, meanwhile, will be right back on the pitch tomorrow evening as they travel to Wheelock College.