WEST POINT, N.Y. (September 8, 2015) -- The Army West Point men's soccer team picked up its first victory of the season with a 3-2 win over Sacred Heart on Monday evening at Clinton Field.
Army (1-3-0) received all three of its goals in the first half, as junior Christian Ollen and sophomores Shaban Abousaud and Spencer Goldstein found the back of the net. Senior goalkeeper Chris Britt made a pair of saves for the Black Knights.
Murray Cockburn and Dylan Santos provided goals for Sacred Heart (1-2-1) while Tucker Hackett finished with five saves.
"Tonight, execution was the biggest thing for us," said Army head coach Russell Payne. "Our last three games have been very similar in the way that we've been able to create opportunities, but tonight, I think there was just a little more clinical touch and that's what we've been looking for."
The Black Knights built early momentum right out of the gate, as Abousaud sent a shot on net that was saved in the third minute by Hackett after receiving a cross from Goldstein.
Army's attacking pressure paid off in the 17th minute, when Abousaud scored from the middle of the 18-yard box on centering pass from senior Alex Clark to put the hosts in front 1-0.
The Black Knights doubled their advantage less than two minutes later, as Ollen finished a cross from the right wing by Nick Williams in the 19th minute for a goal that resembled Army's first of the match.
Williams nearly found the back of the net himself in the 32nd minute as the Black Knights continued to dominate possession. Williams received a pass from the midfield and took a few dribbles to get behind the Pioneer defense, but Hackett raced off his line and gathered the ball just as Williams was preparing his shot.
Army was awarded a penalty in the 36th minute after drawing a Sacred Heart foul in the 18-yard box and Goldstein was the beneficiary of the call, as he converted the penalty kick to give the Black Knights a 3-0 lead that would hold until the halftime whistle.
After being outshot 9-0 in the opening half, Sacred Heart accounted for the first four shots of the second period, including a strike off the foot of Cockburn that made the score 3-1 in the 47th minute.
The Black Knights took back control of the game for the next several minutes and twice struck woodwork, with an attempt from junior Alex Jaroscak ringing off the crossbar in the 53rd minute and a shot by Abousaud deflecting off the right post in the 67th minute.
Senior Cody Guerry created a dangerous chance for Army in the 77th minute, firing a hard shot on goal that Hackett punched away before a Sacred Heart defender just beat out freshman Christian Lue Young for the ball in what would have been an attempt at a wide open net.
The Pioneers weathered the Black Knights' scoring opportunities late in the second half and found their second goal in the 83rd minute when Santos scored on an assist from Shaquille Saunchez to bring the visitors back to within a goal.
Sacred Heart had two more shots in the remainder of the game, including a chance from Cockburn that went high off of a set piece from a few yards outside Army's 18-yard box in the 90th minute.
Army has seven days off before its next competition, as the Black Knights return to action on Sept. 15 when they travel to face Fordham at 7 p.m.
MATCH NOTES: Army improves to 6-1-2 in its all-time series against Sacred Heart … freshman Martin Lasprilla made his career debut … the Black Knights' three goals equal their season high from a year ago when they scored three against Central Connecticut State on Sept. 23.
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