JOLIET, Ill. - A 22-7 shots advantage by the University of St. Francis men's soccer team proved not enough as Clarke (Iowa) tallied a pair of  second-half goals en route to a 2-0 shutout victory over the Saints this Wednesday (Sept. 4) evening at ATI Field in Joliet Memorial Stadium.
 

Neither team was able to get on the scoreboard in the opening 45 minutes of action despite numerous scoring opportunities. The Saints, who held a 12-5 shots margin in the first half, misfired on at least three shots right out in front of Clarke's goal as Pride goalkeeper Jan Paule racked up six stops in the half. Clarke would get an opportunity to break the scoreless tie at 31:28 into the match on a penalty kick by Rio Athwal, but the ball went just outside of the left USF goal post.   
 

The Saints, who drop to 1-1-2 overall on the season with the loss, faced a 1-0 deficit early in the second half as Clarke registered the initial score of the non-conference match at the 47:37 mark as Jose Ruiz was able to kick the ball past USF goalkeeper Carlos Ferrer Coto (JR/La Fresneda, Spain) for his third goal of this season. The Pride added an insurance goal in the 68th minute on a tally from the right side of the box by George Braima, which was his first of the year. Both CU goals were assisted.
 

USF, which posted eight shots on goal in the match, generated 10 second-half shots to Clarke's two. Individually, midfielder-forward Anthony Marmolejo (FR/Plainfield, Ill.) led USF with five shots and defender Andres Castellanos (SO/Plainfield, Ill.) added four as 11 Saints In notched at least one shot. Defender Brian Castillo (JR/Joliet, Ill.) recorded two shots on goal to lead USF, which claimed an 8-2 corner kicks advantage.
 

 Goalkeeper Coto (1-1-2), a two-time Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAC) Defensive Player of the Week selection this season, had two saves for the match while his netminding counterpart, Clarke's Paule (1-1-0) finished the contest with eight.
 

The Saints will close out their current four-match home stand this Saturday (Sept. 7) afternoon versus the Aquinas (Mich.) Saints. The non-league outing is scheduled for a 12 p.m. (CT) start at ATI Field in Joliet Memorial Stadium.