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Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Posted: Oct 15, 2025

Hamzavi’s Late Winner Lifts Men's Soccer Over Dean, 2-1, Wednesday Night

Game Program Video Box Score
Scoring Summary
2nd - 48:38 - Mario Milardo (Saint Joseph (Conn.))
2nd - 80:25 - Ciaran Phibbs (Dean College)
2nd - 86:35 - Nico Hamzavi (Saint Joseph (Conn.))
Game Leaders
Dean College
G: Ciaran Phibbs - 1
A: Felipe Castillo - 1
Sh: 3 Players (#3, #19, #27) - 2
Sv: Jake Godwin - 4
Saint Joseph (Conn.)
G: 2 Players (#11, #21) - 1
A: Elis Sulollari - 1
Sh: Mario Milardo - 7
Sv: Will Slayton - 1
Team Stats
Full stats

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Sophomore midfielder Nico Hamzavi (West Hartford, Conn.) scored the decisive goal in the 87th minute to lift the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's soccer team to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Dean College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action Wednesday night at the USJ Soccer Field in West Hartford, Conn. With the result, the Blue Jays improved to 7-3-2 overall and remained unbeaten in conference play at 6-0-2, while the Bulldogs dropped to 6-7-2 overall and 5-4-0 in the GNAC.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The Blue Jays controlled much of the first half, earning seven corner kicks and firing 10 shots, but the sides went into halftime scoreless after Dean goalkeeper Jake Godwin made a pair of key stops.

  • USJ broke through in the 49th minute as sophomore midfielder Mario Milardo (Middletown, Conn.) slotted home the rebounded effort of classmate Elis Sulollari (Cheshire, Conn.) to make it 1–0 Blue Jays.

  • Dean responded in the 81st minute, as Ciaran Phibbs headed home a rebound off a header from Felipe Castillo to level the match at 1–1.

  • The Blue Jays pressed for a winner and found it with under four minutes to play. Hamzavi stood over a free kick chance from the top left corner of the 18-yard box, curling a strike into the  side netting, putting USJ back in front, 2–1, in the 87th minute.

  • Dean pushed for a late equalizer, but the USJ defense stood firm, denying a leveling goal to take home the victory, 2-1.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

  • Milardo netted his seventh goal of the season, while Hamzavi recorded his second of the year.

  • USJ outshot Dean 21–8, including 6–2 in shots on goal.

  • Sophomore goalkeeper Will Slayton (Manchester, Conn.) made one save over 90 minutes to secure his sixth win of the season.

  • Dean's Godwin finished with four saves.

  • The Blue Jays also held an 8–6 edge in corner kicks.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays head on the road for two games, starting with a visit to New London, N.H., for a GNAC match against Colby-Sawyer College on Saturday, Oct. 18. Opening kickoff against the Chargers at the Kelsey Soccer Field is set for 3:30 p.m.

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