Sparkill, N.Y. – The St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Soccer team fell 4-1 to the University of the District of Columbia on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Field in Sparkill, as both teams opened the ECC portion of their 2021 schedules.
 
UDC scored early in the match, as Ignacio Pericet found the back of the net just 13 minutes into the contest on a pass from Imrane Achahi. Though the Spartans were able to tie the score at one when Juan Pablo Cedeno Varea netted his first of the season in the 24th minute, the Firebirds regained the lead on a Vitor Gomes tally in the 34th minute to take a 2-1 lead into the halftime break.

In the second half, UDC would put the game out of reach when Vitor Gomes scored his second of the match on a feed from Zouhir Warid in the 66th minute and a Joseluiz Avalos goal from Gomes in the 80th minute to make it a 4-1 result in favor of the visiting Firebirds.
 
The Spartans had 13 total shots, with eight going on goal, but District of Columbia keeper Javier Abadia Torres (W, 2-4) would stand tall, making seven saves on the day.

Inside the Box Score
•    Spartan goalie Felix Davies (L, 1-1-1) collected three saves in his third start between the pipes.
•    Marlon Rowe, Jorge Umana and Leonardo Osawa each registered two shots in the match.
•    STAC's offense was well-balanced throughout 90 minutes, recording five shots in the first half and eight in the second.
•    St. Thomas Aquinas had a 10-3 advantage in corner kicks over UDC.

Up Next
After going 3-2-1 in their season-long six-game homestand to open the season, STAC heads out on the road to face newest conference member D'Youville College on Saturday, September 25. Kickoff between the Spartans and Saints is scheduled for 2:30pm in Buffalo, NY.