Sparkill, N.Y. - Goals by Kevon Evans and Joaquim Cardoso in the first ten minutes of Wednesday's East Coast Conference Men's Soccer Tournament First Round match propelled No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas College to a 3-1 victory over No. 6 Molloy University at Spartan Field in Rockland County.
STAC moves to 7-7-2 on the season and advances to the Semifinal round of the tournament, while Molloy University closes its 2025 campaign at 3-7-7 overall and 2-1-5 in conference play.
The aforementioned Evans and Cardoso scored early first half goals for the Spartans, while teammate Jorge De La Vibora chipped in an insurance goal late in the second stanza. Goalkeeper Dante Muntane (W, 6-5-2) got the start between the sticks for the maroon and gold and five of six shots fired his way.
Meanwhile, Wilmer Flores broke the shutout for the Lions, tallying his team's lone goal, as keeper Callum Hunt (L, 3-6-7) stopped seven of ten shots faced for Molloy.
Additionally, prior to the postseason match between the Spartans and Lions, the ECC Elite 20 Award was presented by league Commissioner Jessica Grasso to St. Thomas Aquinas' Elias Ait Bouali. Bouali, a senior finance major, holds a perfect 4.0 GPA and is tops among all East Coast Conference Men's Soccer student-athletes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
8th Minute: A high, floating kick sent back into the middle of the box by Joaquim Cardoso found the head of Kevon Evans for the redirection past a diving Callum Hunt to give STAC an early 1-0 advantage.
10th Minute: A corner kick by Jorge De La Vibora sailed from left to right, finding the head of Joaquim Cardso for the quick flick past Hunt to double the Spartans' lead at 2-0.
63rd Minute: An offensive rush by the maroon and gold allowed Kevon Evans to send a quick feed to teammate Francisco Degiorgi for a cross into the box, finding Jorge De La Vibora for the deflection goal to give STAC a commanding 3-0 lead.
64th Minute: Moments later Molloy would break the shutout on a Spartans turnover, which allowed Wilmer Flores to corral the ball and dance around several defenders before sending a shot past Dante Muntane at the right post to cut the deficit to 3-1.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- St. Thomas Aquinas outshot Molloy, 16-10 with the Spartans putting the ball on frame ten times and the Lions reaching the goal on six occasions.
- STAC earned a slim 7-5 advantage on corner kicks over Molloy.
- Kevon Evans registered a match-high five shots, with four going on frame.
- The teams were whistled for 41 total fouls (24-17 Molloy) and eight yellow cards (6-2 Lions).
UP NEXT
STAC now heads north, taking on #2 seeded Roberts Wesleyan University in the East Coast Conference Men's Soccer Semifinals, which takes place on Saturday, November 8 at 3:00 p.m. in Rochester, New York.