Game Recap
Junior Eric Strauchen scored in the game's third minute, senior Mathew Santos scored in the game's 68th minute and redshirt-junior goalkeeper Marco Trivellato recorded his third-straight shutout as the Canisius men's soccer team went on the road and defeated Marist 2-0 Saturday night in the first round of the 2016 MAAC Men's Soccer Championship.

With the win, the Golden Griffins improved to 9-7-3 on the year and advanced to the MAAC Championship semifinal round, where the Blue and Gold will meet top-seeded Quinnipiac in Hamden, Connecticut on Friday, Nov. 11. A game time will be announced. This marks the third in program history where the Griffs have earned a berth into the MAAC Championship semifinal round, and it is the first since 2007.

Canisius got on the board early and never looked back, as Strauchen scored his second career goal to put Canisius up 1-0 just 2:03 into the contest. Junior Jake Montante carried the ball down the right side of the field and sent a cross into the box that Strauchen was able to redirect into the back of the net. The assist for Montante was his first point of the season and his first assist since 2014.

Canisius added an insurance goal in the 68th minute when sophomore Will Pauls sent a feed over a Marist defender to a streaking Santos, who got off a shot from top left side of the box that beat Marist goalkeeper Mark Rajovic. The goal was Santos' third of the season, and the assist serves as Pauls' first career point in a Canisius uniform.

Trivellato made five stops for Canisius to earn his third-straight shutout and his sixth shutout of the season. Canisius outshot Marist 15-12, with the Red Foxes holding a 9-3 advantage in corners.

Head Coach Dermot McGrane's Postgame Comments
“I am so proud of the way our guys played tonight against a very good Marist team. Getting the first goal so early in the game was huge, but Mathew Santos' goal in the second half gave us a great lift. It was good to have a cushion like that, especially against a Marist team that can score anytime.”

Game Notes
• This was the 22nd all-time meeting between the two programs and it was the first postseason contest between the schools.
• The win also moves the Griffs unbeaten streak to six, where the team is 4-0-2.
• The victory not only allowed the Blue and Gold to advance to the MAAC Championship semifinal round, but it also makes the men's soccer Class of 2016 the winningest class in program history, having helped be a part of 33 wins since 2013.  
• Trivellato extended his shutout streak to a career-best 347:05, which dates back to the Siena game Oct. 26.   

Up Next
Canisius will travel to play at MAAC regular-season champion Quinnipiac on Friday, Nov. 11 in the MAAC Championship semifinal round.