Naci's Debut Brace, Cano’s Header Lifts Men’s Soccer Past Baruch in Season Opener

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Sophomore winger Victor Naci (Bordeaux, France/Bernard Palissy) recorded his first two goals as a Bear, finding the back of the net in either half, as the St. Joseph's University, NY (Brooklyn) men's soccer team won its opening match, 3-0, over Baruch College on Thursday afternoon at Aviator Field.

Fellow sophomore Jesus Cano (Brooklyn, N.Y./Cristo Rey Brooklyn) also got on the scoresheet for the first time this season, scoring in the 67th minute.

How it Happened

The Bears (1-0) outshot the Bearcats (0-1), 3-1, in the opening 20 minutes of the contest.  Seven minutes later, Francisco Garcia (Brooklyn, N.Y./Park Slope Collegiate) found Naci who juked a pair of Baruch defenders and got the ball past a diving keeper for the opening goal of the match. The Bears remained a goal to the good entering the half.

The navy and gray remained on the offensive for the second 45 minutes. At 67', Cano headed home a feed off Diego Volpe's (Long Branch, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) corner kick, marking his second-consecutive tally in a season-opening match. Before the match was said and done, with seven seconds left on the clock, Pablo Mejia (Elmhurst, N.Y./Academy of Finance and Enterprise) had his shot blocked before Naci netted the rebound to secure his double and the Bears' 3-0 triumph.

For the Bears

• Naci is the first Bear to score two goals in a season opener since Raul Urshela bagged a brace in the program's first-ever match in September 2011.

• Naci led all players with eight shots, three of which on frame.

• Mejia was second with three shots. 

• SJBK outshot the visitors, 20-9; totaling 15 shots in the second half.

• Garcia, Volpe, and Mejia were all credited with assists.

• Junior Leonel Bravo (Astoria, N.Y./Queens Vocational & Technical) made a pair of saves in his first start between the sticks.

Up Next

The Bears welcome New Jersey City University to Randall's Island on Wednesday, September 7 as they continue their four-match homestand to begin the season. The match kicks off at 7 pm with live stats and video available on sjbkathletics.com/live.