ROCHESTER, NY (nazathletics.com) - – Despite picking up a red card just :54 seconds in the game and playing down a man for nearly 89 minutes, the Nazareth men's soccer team opened the season with an impressive 3-1 victory of SUNY Potsdam on Tuesday at Golden Flyer Stadium.
Samuel Burton score twice and
Mason Stanco scored for the Golden Flyers.
Nazareth is 1-0 on the season and Potsdam is 0-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Nazareth's Franklin Safari was sent off for a red card :54 seconds in, forcing the Golden Flyers down to 10 players for the rest of the game.
- The flow of the game still favored the purple and gold despite playing one player down.
- In the 14th minute, Braden Callahan played a beautiful in-swinging corner kick that Burton was able to direct in one-time with his right foot to make it 1-0.
- Under two minutes later, Nazareth was at it again with Joey Weaver playing in a cross that made its way through the goalkeepers' hands and to the foot of Stanco for his first-career goal.
- The score was 2-0 at the half.
- The Bears ramped up the pressure in the second and eventually got on the board in the 67th minute.
- Burton was able to get his second of the day in 76th minute, taking a pass from Zach Scott, took two touches from the top of the box and ripped in far post with his left to make it 3-1.
GAME NOTES
- The multigoal game was the first of Burton's career. The reigning Empire 8 Rookie of the Year had five goals in his first season for the Golden Flyers.
- Sophomore Bryan Tirado made has 17th career start and earned his first win of 2026. He made 5 saves.
- The win was the 9th opening day win for head coach Matt Tantalo
UP NEXT
- Nazareth will play its first road game of the season on Sunday at Maritime with a 12 p.m. kickoff.
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