Badejo and Moran Lead The Charge In AMCATS Home Opener

PAXTON, MA - On Friday, August 30th the Anna Maria College men's soccer team hosted the Nichols College Bison for their first game of the regular season. The AMCATS won the game 2-0.

Starting things off strong, the AMCATS put pressure on the Bison early resulting in a goal just fifteen minutes into the first half. The goal came off a diving pass from Ciaran Bailey over to Oluwafifehan Badejo for the first goal of the evening. The AMCATS would maintain strong possession throughout the remainder of the first half with some solid defensive play from Baptiste Petitjean. Graduate Goalkeeper Valter Santiago would also lock things down on the backend for the AMCATS, stopping four shots to hold the Bison at zero.

The AMCATS kept their momentum going into the second half where they remained strong on the offensive front. With just over seventeen minutes to play in the second half, Valter Santiago would bomb the ball out to Rubelsi Moran who lasered in the AMCATS second goal of the night from the twenty five yard line. The AMCATS would hold off the Bison for the rest of the game leading to their first win of the 2024 season. Valter Santiago would close the game out with 9 saves for his first shutout of the season.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• The AMCATS haven't opened up the season with a win since 2019.
• Valter Santiago currently sits with five career shutouts since joining the AMCATS in 2022.
• Rubelsi Moran's goal marks his 21st career goal with the AMCATS.

COMING UP:

The AMCATS will be back in action on Tuesday, September 3rd where they will host the Westfield State University Owls for their second game of the regular season. Opening kickoff is set for 5:00pm at Caparso Field in Paxton, MA.

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