Geaton Caltabiano, Jalen Robinson, Brad Benzing, and Jon Stephenson (left to right), played well for the Gaels in their victory over Curley Wednesday afternoon. Robinson, a freshman, scored two goals.
The Gaels' Jon Stephenson and Curley's Brad Davis battle for the ball during Wednesday's MIAA A Conference battle. The Gaels won 3-1 on Curley's home field.
jdiblasi@digitalsports.com
On the strength of two goals from Jalen Robinson and a solid performance by goalie Brad Benzing, No. 10 Mount St. Joseph knocked off third-ranked Archbishop Curley, 3-1, Wednesday in another early season showdown between
two highly ranked MIAA A Conference teams.
Benzing had 11 saves, and didn't surrender a goal in 75 minutes of
work. Gaels coach Mike St. Martin replaced Benzing with five minutes to go in the game
to give freshman goalkeeper Cody Neidermeier some work, and Curley's
Cesar Ramos creased the St. Joe net on an assist from Oumar Ballo with
1 minute, 56 seconds to go in the game to avert a shutout.
"Our defense played well," said Benzing. We got great games from Jon
(Stephenson), Kevin (Gorman) and Earl (Kidwell). Curley is a very good
team, but we played a great game."
Mount St. Joseph earned their second conference win in two starts, having
defeated Loyola 3-2 last week in overtime. It was the first conference
game of the season for the Friars.
Robinson, whose older brother Renard plays football for the Irvington school, put
the Gaels ahead 1-0 with 12:43 to go in the first half, on a beautiful
header.
"I got a good ball from Geaton Caltabiano, and didn't give up
on it," said the freshman. For his part, Caltabiano made a smooth pass
to set up Stephenson's second goal.
Five minutes later, Robinson would score again, this time on a perfect
pass from Kevin Gorman. The Gaels defense made their two goal lead
stand up. They added a third score on a penalty kick by Caltabiano
with 8:27 left in the game.
"We knew we had to contain Chris (Weaver), Mikias (Teketele), and
Cesar (Ramos), and that was the key to our success, " said Robinson.
"We played well," said St.Martin. "We're only starting two seniors, and the younger players are starting to work together."
Curley goalie John Connolly was impressed by the Gaels' performance.
"They started
strong, and seemd to control the ball early in the game," said Connolly, a senior.
Curley coach Barry Stitz, a former Baltimore Blast star from 1992
through 2000, saw some positive play from his squad, despite the loss.
"We simply didn't do enough today to win," said Stitz.
Mount St. Joseph 3, Archbishop Curley 1
MSJ 2 1-3
Curley 0 1-1
Goals: MSJ-Robinson (2), Caltabiano; C- Ramos. Assists: MSJ-Gorman, Caltabiano; C-Ballo. Saves: MSJ- Benzing 11; C-Connolly 6.