EASTON, MASS. — Stonehill dominated Saint Francis on Thursday evening, securing a 2-0 victory behind a two-goal performance from Nathan Lagoa that lifted the Skyhawks to their first win in three matches. Playing at home, Stonehill controlled the tempo throughout and capitalized on its superior shot volume to break through a Saint Francis defense that struggled to contain the hosts' attacking movements.
Lagoa opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when Jared Rapoza found him with a well-placed pass, and the Stonehill forward made no mistake finishing low and center. The Red Flash had chances to equalize before halftime—Harry Elmore and Julian Quiroga both tested Stonehill's goalkeeper—but the hosts' defense held firm. Lagoa struck again in the 63rd minute, this time assisted by Owen Burke, extending Stonehill's lead and effectively sealing the result with more than 25 minutes remaining.
The first half belonged almost entirely to Stonehill, which generated consistent pressure and forced Saint Francis goalkeeper Diego Garciarena into several saves. While the Red Flash created sporadic opportunities, they lacked the clinical finishing to capitalize. Stonehill's midfield controlled possession and dictated play, limiting Saint Francis to counterattacking opportunities that rarely materialized into genuine scoring chances.
Saint Francis emerged with more urgency after the break, pressing higher and attempting to generate chances through set pieces and open play. The Red Flash earned multiple corners and free kicks in dangerous areas but couldn't convert any into goals. Garciarena made 11 saves across the 90 minutes, keeping his team competitive despite the offensive disparity. Stonehill's goalkeeper made five saves to preserve the shutout.
The statistics painted a clear picture of Stonehill's dominance. The Skyhawks outshot Saint Francis 24-14 overall and 13-5 on target. Stonehill also won the corner-kick battle 10-6, creating additional opportunities from set pieces. Saint Francis committed no yellow cards while Stonehill received three cautions, though none altered the match's trajectory.
Lagoa's two-goal performance was the standout individual achievement, but Stonehill's collective defensive organization deserved equal credit. The back line, anchored by Colin Hargraves and others, limited Saint Francis's most dangerous attacking players and forced the Red Flash into rushed decisions. Rapoza and Burke, in addition to their assist contributions, consistently created problems for the visiting defense.
The victory snapped a winless streak for Stonehill, which had drawn 0-0 at Le Moyne just four days earlier before suffering a 4-2 loss to Harvard the previous week. Saint Francis, meanwhile, saw its two-game winning streak end after defeating FDU 1-0 on October 26. The Red Flash's record now sits at 6-8-1 while Stonehill improved to 5-9-2.
Stonehill will look to build momentum when it travels to Howard on November 2, hoping to string together consecutive victories. Saint Francis has nearly two weeks before hosting Central Connecticut State on November 9, providing time to regroup and address the offensive struggles that plagued them Thursday night.