Firebirds Erupt Offensively in 4-0 Win vs. Daemen; Improve to 3-1-1 in League Play

ARLINGTON, VA – Coming off back-to-back shutout losses, the University of the District of Columbia men's soccer team erupted for four goals while the defense shut down East Coast Conference foe Daemen en-route to a decisive, 4-0 league win on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Long Bridge Park.

The Firebirds (3-8-1) improved to 3-1-1 in the East Coast Conference and currently sit in 3^rd place in the league standings, just one point behind No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas (3-1-2). Daemen fell to 2-11 overall and 0-6 in the ECC with today's loss.

UDC tallied two goals per half with four different Firebirds scoring and six credited with assists. Freshman midfielder Gabriel Torres, sophomore midfielder Michael Agboola, and freshman forward Malik Thom each registered a goal and an assist. Reigning ECC Rookie of the Week Benhur Gebretsanie scored the other Firebird goal.

The Firebirds out-shot their guests, 14-6, put seven shots on goal to Daemen's two, and took six corner kicks to the Wildcats' four.

Gebretsanie opened the scoring in the 15^th minute, firing a shot from about 20 yards out from the left side after some pretty passing up the field by Salah Warid and Michael Agboola. UDC struck again on a breakaway just under a minute before halftime as Agboola booted in a cross from sophomore forward Kevin Ortez. Sophomore forward Kevin Claure-Guzman was also credited with his 2^nd assist of the season on that play, and the Firebirds, having out-shot Daemen, 9-3 in the first half, led 2-0 at the break.

UDC clamped down even more on defense in the second half, allowing Daemen only three shots and zero shots on goal. Meanwhile, the Firebirds kept on the attack, firing five shots and adding two more goals to its lead. Torres scored for UDC in the 79^th minute on a cross from Thom, and Thom scored a little over a minute later off of a pass from Torres. The goal from Torres was his team-leading 4^th of the season, and he leads the team with 11 points this season.

UDC senior goalkeeper Ever Guevera Alvarez improved to 3-3 on the season and earned his 2^nd complete game shutout victory with two saves today. Daemen's Justin Figler took the loss with three saves and four goals allowed.

The Firebirds will next host ECC foe Molloy College (7-2, 4-0 ECC) on Wednesday, October 12^th at 3 p.m. (Site of the game is to be determined) Molloy is No. 1 in the league standings having just defeated previously unbeaten St. Thomas Aquinas, 3-0 today.