THE BASICS:

Score: Holy Cross 2, Loyola (Md.) 0
Records: Holy Cross (3-2-2, 1-0-0 Patriot League); Loyola (3-3-2, 0-1-0 Patriot League)
Location: Worcester, Mass. (Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014
Time: 1:05 p.m.
The Lead: Freshman Nicholas Cestaro (Massapequa, N.Y.) posted one goal and one assist for three points, while sophomore Ty Goncalves(Norwood, Mass.) also scored a goal as the Holy Cross men's soccer team defeated Loyola (Md.), 2-0, on Saturday afternoon at the Linda Johnson Smith Stadium in the Patriot League opener for both teams. The Crusaders are now 3-0-1 over their last four games.   

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Crusaders took the first shot on goal when junior Eddie Gibbons(Bellport, N.Y.) fired a shot from 25 yards out that was saved by Matt Sanchez in the sixth minute.
• Sanchez also made a save on a shot from freshman Arno Rupp(Wolfsberg, Austria) from eight yards out in the 31st minute.
• The Crusaders took a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute when Goncalves scored from eight yards out for his first collegiate goal after receiving a crossing pass from Cestaro.
• The Greyhounds created a scoring opportunity in the 71st minute when Dylan Engel sent a crossing pass to Laurin Vogel who then shot the ball just over the net from eight yards out.
• Cestaro then increased the Crusaders' lead to 2-0 in the 80th minute when he found the back of the net from five yards out for his first collegiate goal.
• Engel took two shots on net in the final 1:45 of the contest but junior captain Kevin Wright (McKinney, Texas) made saves on both of them to secure the Crusaders' first shutout of the season.

KOOLMAN ON THE GAME: "It was great to win our Patriot League season-opener," said Holy Cross head coach Marco Koolman, "It is always good to start off conference play with a victory. I give a lot of credit to our players. They really carried out the game plan that the coaching staff gave them. We created a lot of good chances. We also played very well defensively today. All 11 players on the field played strong defense contributing to the shutout."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:                                                                                

• Wright had two saves for Holy Cross, as Sanchez posted three saves for the Greyhounds.
• Holy Cross held the advantage in shots (13-5) and shots on goal (5-2), as the Crusaders led in corner kicks (5-3).

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Holy Cross is 3-0-1 over its last four games outscoring its opponents by a 10-4 margin.
• This four-game streak without a loss is the Crusaders' longest since a 4-0-2 stretch in the 2008 season.
• Goncalves and Cestaro each scored their first collegiate goal.
• Wright now has seven career shutouts
• Today's shutout was the first for the season for the Crusaders 

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 1, when they travel to Brookline, Mass., to take on Northeastern at Parsons Field at 6:00 p.m.

KEEP CONNECTED:

• There are numerous ways to stay connected with the Holy Cross men's soccer team. Follow the Crusaders on Twitter @Crusader_Soccer, on Facebook and on Instagram. You can also keep updated with the team through its season blog by going here. You can also get the latest news and results on the team sent directly to your e-mail. To sign up for e-mail alerts go here: http://www.goholycross.com/list-signup.