PC Men Beat Holy Cross

Ritter's Early Strike Enough for Friars

September 6, 2009

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Providence College men’s soccer team scored early on its way to a 1-0 victory over Holy Cross Saturday in the home opener at PC’s Glay Field.

Senior Timothy Ritter (Weston, Mass.), who scored late in double overtime to lead Providence to a 1-0 win over Sacred Heart Tuesday, also scored the lone goal for the Friars against Holy Cross. This time, Ritter scored early in the first half as Providence improved to 2-0.

It marks the second consecutive season that the Friars have won their first two games.

The goal came in the fourth minute when freshman Marc Cintron gained possession of the ball in the right wing before driving in a cross into the 18-yard box. The ball bounced once before Ritter ran onto the ball and fired a right-footed volley into the upper netting at 3:59.

The Friars had several chances to stretch their lead in the second half. Sophomore Daniel Fabian (Southbury, Conn.) was sent in on a breakaway, but Holy Cross goalkeeper Thomas Booth smothered his attempt in the 68th minute. In the 81st minute, junior Matt Marcin played a cross from the left wing to graduate student Roy Sandeman, but his header glanced off the crossbar.

Holy Cross also had a chance to score the equalizer, but James Imbriani’s header off a corner kick missed wide in the 74th minute.

Providence finished with an 11-8 advantage in shots, but shots on goal was even (6-6). Graduate student Timothy Murray (Haverhill, Mass.) finished with six saves to earn his second shutout of the season and 20th overall. Booth had five stops for the Crusaders.