The St. Thomas Aquinas College men's soccer team kicked off the 2016 season with a 2-0 victory over Georgian Court University in a non-conference game at Spartan Field. The season opener for both teams saw the Spartans avenge last season's loss to their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opponents, a 4-2 decision on the road.

Georgian Court carried the edge in play in the early going, but a handful of saves by Spartan netminder Jack Nicholson kept the contest scoreless into the latter stages of the first half. With just under four minutes remaining in the session, Christian Jones was on the spot with STAC's first goal of the year, off an assist from Luis Morales, giving the hosts a 1-0 edge into halftime.

Talent and fortune would combine on the Spartans' second goal, early in the second stanza. A nifty run down the left side was followed by a cross into the box which caromed off the outstretched leg of a defender, off the post, into the leg of Lions goalkeeper Aleksander Milosevic, and into the corner of the net.

That 2-0 edge was more than enough for the stingy Spartans defense and Nicholson, who turned aside seven shots to earn the clean sheet. GCU held a 13-9 advantage in shots in the hotly-contested affair, with Milosevic accounting for four saves.

The Spartans return to their home pitch on Saturday, September 3, hosting nearby rival Nyack College for a 12:00 noon start. They will then hit the road for their next five straight games, including their East Coast Conference opener at Roberts Wesleyan College on September 16.