The St. Thomas Aquinas men's soccer team beat Nationally ranked Mercyhurst College, 2-1 this afternoon.  Freshmen Liam Ryan scored his first collegiate goal.  Dan Davren added the game winning goal in the final two minutes of the game.  Rookie Nicholas Pulumbo had 5 saves in his first start. 

Ryan's goal came around the 60 minute mark to tie the score up 1-1.  Both teams battled the rest of the way until Davren was able to break the tie with a header off an assist from Hayri Altintas.  James Van Stallduine had 5 saves for Mercyhurst.

"I am delighted with the lads who started their first game for the Spartans; Nick Palumbo, Ryan Chevrier, Sean Devito, Liam Ryan and Alex Mullen.  They were all excellent. It was a great uplift for the Spartan squad with suspensions and injuries causing concern prior to the game.  I thought the young players, including Hayria Altintas playing his first ever full game for STAC, were all excellent.  They gave everything they had and then some, I am very proud off them all," remarked head coach Graham Brown.

The Spartans are now 9-1-4 and will host Bridgeport on Saturday at 2:30 at Eugene Levy Field.  Saturday's game will be senior day for 7 of the Spartan players.