Sparkill, N.Y. - In their first match of the 2021 season, the St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Soccer team posted a 1-0 shutout victory over Stonehill College at Spartan Field in Sparkill on Thursday afternoon.

Prior to the start of the contest between the Spartans and Skyhawks, the teams paid tribute to former STAC Men's Soccer athlete Eric Birighitti, who tragically passed away while back in his native Australia during Winter Break in January 2020, with a moment of silence.
 
When the match got underway, STAC was quick to jump on the attack from the opening kick, working the ball deep into the Skyhawks' zone, but were unable to put the ball behind goalkeeper Andrew Hammersley. However, just a little over 15 minutes into the opening stanza, Joel Hofstetter would receive a chest-high feed from teammate Anthony Bolivar Sanchez, which he would head past Hammersley to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
 
Solid defense and tremendous pressure from all 11 players on the field kept Stonehill in check through the final 75 minutes of action. Despite outshooting STAC 15-10 in the game, the visiting Skyhawks could only muster two to three high percentage scoring chances, which were cast aside by Spartan keeper Asier Vegas, with the rest of their shots on frame coming from long distance.
 
STAC would hold on to the 1-0 lead to secure its first win of the 2020-21 season.

Inside the Box Score

• Joel Hofstetter recorded his first goal with STAC.
• Asier Vegas finished the game with six saves in net for the Spartans, earning his first shutout in maroon and gold.
• Stonehill held a 15-10 shots advantage for the game.
• St. Thomas Aquinas took 14 fouls and received two yellow cards, while the visiting Skyhawks picked up 23 fouls and five yellow cards on the afternoon.

Up Next
St. Thomas Aquinas College (1-0) will host Saint Michael's College for another non-conference matchup at Spartan Field on Sunday, September 5 at 10am.