The Sacred Heart University men’s soccer team is off to a distinguished start in their inaugural season in the Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), securing four wins in their first five matches.
One of these victories was a 5-0 score over Lehigh University. The match against Lehigh on Sept. 6 marked the first time since 2018 that the Pioneers have scored five goals in a singular match.
Freshman Iván Morcillo aided in this Pioneer victory with two netted goals and an assist.
“I work hard every day to achieve these moments,” said Morcillo.
Freshman Brady Poor and Junior(s) Sam McCann and captain David Garcia Gallego also contributed to the Pioneers’ win over Lehigh with a goal each. Three out of five of the Pioneers’ goals came within a span of five minutes.
This win was the third of the season, following a narrow 1-0 victory over Army West Point. The Pioneers continued their charge on Sept. 10, clinching another 1-0 win over the New Jersey Institute of Technology, with McCann as the lone scorer.
Freshman Ivan Morcillo pictured celebrating
a goal against Lehigh University.
Source: Instagram, @shu_msoc
This season, the Pioneers have deepened and strengthened their roster with the addition of eleven new team members covering all positions.
Despite the roster changes, there is a strong sense of unity within the team. “We are basically a family,” said Garcia Gallego. “We have 30 players, and it feels good knowing everyone can do their job.”
With the support of the returning players, the new additions have quickly found their footing within the team.
“We had a strong group returning this fall. Our returners have done a great job assisting our staff to mold all the players into a team that understands our environment and our playing style,” said Head Coach Anthony Anzevui.
As the Pioneers look to extend their strong start as conference play approaches, their main focus is on continuing to refine their game.
“The team has seen that we can continue to improve when we are fully concentrated and fully focused,” said Anzevui. “We know we can get better and that is our motivation.”
Sacred Heart currently leads the MAAC conference, and they look to stay in good form while striving for success.
“We know every game will be a battle and we must go game by game, step by step, to prepare for each game correctly,” said Anzevui.
With Garcia Gallego leading the charge, the Pioneers treat every game like their last, looking to play their best every time they step on the field.
“We play every game like it is a final,” said Garcia Gallego.
Building on a strong start to the season all while pursuing success in their new conference, Sacred Heart aims to enhance their record in their next fixture at Yale University on Saturday, Sept. 21.
