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Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Posted: Aug 29, 2025

Late Sulollari Goal Lifts Men's Soccer Past SUNY Poly in Season Opener

Game Program Photos Video Box Score
Scoring Summary
1st - 2:44 - Jael Casimir (SUNY Poly)
1st - 29:07 - Mario Milardo (Saint Joseph (Conn.))
2nd - 87:14 - Elis Sulollari (Saint Joseph (Conn.))
Game Leaders
SUNY Poly
G: Jael Casimir - 1
A: Marcus Cole - 1
Sh: 2 Players (#8, #9) - 4
Sv: Tyler Barth - 4
Saint Joseph (Conn.)
G: 2 Players (#21, #26) - 1
A: Nate Gabriel - 2
Sh: Mario Milardo - 4
Sv: 2 Players (#1, #25) - 3
Team Stats
Full stats

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Sophomore Elis Sulollari (Cheshire, Conn.) netted the game-winner in the 88th minute to lift the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over SUNY Poly in the teams' 2025 season opener Friday evening at the USJ Soccer Field in West Hartford, Conn. With the result, the Blue Jays improve to 1-0-0, while the Wildcats drop to 0-1-0.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • SUNY Poly struck first just 2:44 into the match on a goal from Jael Casimir.

  • USJ pulled level in the 30th minute when sophomore Mario Milardo (Middletown, Conn.) buried a pass from junior Nate Gabriel (Naugatuck, Conn.) to make it 1-1.

  • Sophomore Will Slayton (Southington, Conn.) would be called into action late in the first half, making a tremendous diving stop to preserve the 1-1 score entering the halftime break.

  • The Blue Jays controlled stretches of the second half and finally broke through in the closing minutes. Gabriel set up Sulollari for the decisive strike with 2:46 remaining in regulation.

  • The USJ defense would stand strong in the closing moments, holding on for the 2-1 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

  • Milardo and Sulollari each scored their first goals of the season.

  • Gabriel notched a pair of assists, his first of the season.

  • Suny Poly outshot the Blue Jays, 19-11, on the night.

  • Slayton got the start in net, playing the entire first half and recording three saves.

  • Senior Andres Diosa (Newington, Conn.) played the second half and also recorded three saves to pick up the victory (1-0-0).

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays head on the road for a non-conference match against Wheaton College on Saturday, September 6. Opening kickoff against the Lyons on Keefe Field in Norton, Mass., is set for 2:00 p.m.

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