EASTON, Massachusetts - The No. 14 American International College men's soccer team reached double digits in victories for the second time in program history as the squad earned a 4-0 win in Northeast-10 Conference play against Stonehill College on Saturday, October 16.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: No. 14 AIC 4, Stonehill 0
Records: AIC improves to 10-1-1, with a 7-1-0 NE10 mark; Stonehill drops to 5-6-1 on the campaign with a 2-4-1 league record
Location: Skyhawk Field, Easton, Massachusetts

KEY STATS:
Stonehill:
Andrew Hammersley: Loss (4-6-1), six saves on nine shots in 84:21
Anthony Bellomo: No decision, no saves on one shot in 5:39

No. 14 AIC:
Samir Regragui: Two goals
Carl Larsson: One goal
Mathis Pilon St. Louis: One goal
Niklas Stalzer: One assist
Lucas Morales-Fernandez: Win (10-1-1), shutout (5), two saves

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• It was a tightly-contested first half, but AIC struck first just past the half-hour mark when graduate student Samir Regragui stole the ball from a Skyhawks defender midway between the box and the center line. He dribbled forward briefly before firing a shot that goalkeeper Andrew Hammersley deflected but did not save. The goal, Regragui's first of the campaign, came at 32:16.
• AIC pushed the pace in the second half, and was able to add to the scoring margin. The team drew a corner kick that Regragui placed into the six-yard box, and rookie Carl Larsson, who was crashing the net, made Hammersley pay for mishandling the ball, knocking it in at 64:04 for his third of the year.
• Regragui would add a second goal less than ten minutes later; he took a throw in from graduate student Josip Validzic that went straight into the 18-yard box and flicked it over Hammersley for his second of the game and season at 73:56.
• The Yellow Jackets put a bow on the game with a freshman duo striking in the final minute; Niklas Stalzer was able to beat a defender over the middle and find Mathis Pilon St. Louis on the right side of the box. St. Louis turned his shot back into the left corner of the net at 89:08 for his ninth of the season, sealing the 4-0 win.

RECORD BREAKING GOALKEEPING PERFORMANCE:

• Though he was only tested twice, rookie Lucas Morales-Fernandez made history in AIC's net.
• The freshman netminder recorded his 10th win of the season, becoming the first goalkeeper in the history of the men's team to hit double digits.
• He also tied the single-season mark for shutouts with his fifth; Peter Bisson had five clean sheets in 2002.

SEE YOU IN NOVEMBER:

• With the win, the Yellow Jackets have ensured that they will finish no worse than eighth in the NE10, clinching a playoff berth for the third consecutive season.
• Regardless of remaining results, AIC will outright finish ahead of Assumption, Bentley, Southern Connecticut, and Saint Michael's, and holds a tiebreaker with Saint Anselm; with Le Moyne still to play Stonehill, the Yellow Jackets are assured of finishing tied with or ahead of at least one of those two as well, and owns tiebreakers with both.

QUOTABLE:

• Team co-captain David Harper said of the performance, "Proud of the boys today. Great way to bounce back after a frustrating result during the week. We showed great character throughout the whole squad today and everyone played their part. We work hard again this week, and take this togetherness into the remainder of the season."
• Regragui echoed his captain's sentiment, saying "It was a key game for us to bounce back after Wednesday's loss, but we pulled together and made it an enjoyable win against a team who is hard to play, especially away from home."
• Head Coach Luke Perry noted, "We have spoken a lot the past few days about our mindset and our response. Today the lads showed me what they're made of, coming to a very tough place and getting a result."

NEXT UP:

• The lads travel to Coach Perry's alma mater, Southern Connecticut State University, for a Saturday matinee. Kickoff on October 23 is slated for 2:00 p.m. in New Haven, Connecticut.