DUBUQUE, Iowa – Lanji Atanga (Minneapolis, MN/) scored in the 82nd minute and Afonso Silva (Lisbon, Portugal/) recorded a six-save shutout as the St. Scholastica men's soccer team earned its first victory of the season, defeating Loras 1–0 Saturday at the Rock Bowl.
The Saints improved to 1–3, converting their lone shot of the match while holding off a Loras attack that finished with 16 shots and eight corner kicks.
With the match scoreless late in the second half, Atanga delivered the decisive goal at 81:31 off an assist from Guilherme Marcondes Pereira (Sao Jose, Brazil). St. Scholastica then protected the lead over the final eight-plus minutes to secure the road victory.
Silva made two key stops shortly after the goal, denying Ernesto Silva at 82:21 and Christopher Hastert at 82:51. Loras threatened again in the 89th minute, but Ernesto Silva's attempt struck the crossbar, and the Saints held on to complete the shutout.
The teams entered halftime scoreless after St. Scholastica weathered five Loras shots and five corner kicks. Silva stopped the Duhawks' only shot on goal of the opening half, turning away Sep Heerkens in the third minute.
Loras increased its pressure after the break with 11 shots, but Silva collected five second-half saves. His stops included attempts by Ernesto Silva and Liam Klossner less than a minute apart midway through the half, keeping the match level until Atanga's breakthrough.
Jakob Jansen (Lengerich, Germany/), Parker Chastey (Duluth, MN/Denfeld HS), Tim Bader (München, Germany/) and Vasco Carneiro (Lisbon, Portugal/) joined Silva in playing the full 90 minutes as the Saints earned their first shutout of the season. The victory also marked St. Scholastica's first win over Loras in program history. The Saints entered Saturday's contest 0–5–1 against the Duhawks, including losses in their three previous trips to Dubuque.
St. Scholastica returns home Tuesday, Sept. 15, to open MIAC play against Carleton College. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Kenny Harkins Field.
