ALBANY – Saint Michael's College put two markers on the board in the first 26 minutes and added a late goal en route to a 3-0 victory over The College of Saint Rose men's soccer team in the Northeast-10 Conference opener for both squads this afternoon at the Albany Academies West Campus. The Purple Knights (4-0/1-0 NE-10) kept their unblemished record intact by registering their third shutout of the year while making the most of their four shots throughout the afternoon.

Saint Michael's junior forward Rondel Ward got the scoring started for the Purple Knights via a header off a set piece 9:30 into the contest. After being awarded a free kick on the right side, senior midfielder Jared Berry served the ensuing kick near the middle of the penalty box where Ward ran onto the ball unchecked and found the far post for his first tally of the 2009 campaign.

A little more than 16 minutes later, the Golden Knights (1-3/0-1 NE-10) failed to clear the ball on a crossing pass and Saint Michael's junior midfielder Ryan Gannon took advantage of the miscue, beating Saint Rose sophomore keeper Patrik Ohlsson far post to make it a 2-0 affair at the 25:54 mark.

The Purple Knights left no doubt as Berry and Ward connected again with just under six minutes left. Saint Michael's was awarded a free kick on the right side, but this time Ward deposited a header near post for the final margin.

The Golden Knights generated a pair of opportunities throughout the final 15 minutes but to no avail. Sophomore forward Taras Panchishak fed sophomore midfielder Sal Sapienza down the center channel in the 75th minute, but Sapienza's shot was deflected wide by Saint Michael's keeper Jason Burnett. Burnett came up big once again in the 79th minute with a diving stop to his left off an attempt by junior fullback Johan Lewton.

Burnett turned aside five shots for the Purple Knights, while Ohlsson was not called upon to make a save in 90 minutes of action. Additionally, Saint Rose held a slim 6-4 margin in shots while each club generated a pair of corner kicks.

Saint Rose will spend the next week preparing for a league match-up at Stonehill College next Saturday. Kick off is set for 12:00 pm in Easton, MA. The Purple Knights will continue their five-game road trip Tuesday when they arrive in Johnson, Vermont for a 4:00 pm non-conference encounter at Johnson State College. 

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