Marist men’s soccer went on the road Wednesday night and upset Sacred Heart (2-4-3, 0-1-1 Metro) 1-0. The Pioneers were picked to win the Metro after finishing as runners-up last season, but Marist (3-2-3, 1-1-0 Metro) came out on top behind a 60th minute goal by graduate student midfielder Gijs Velings, his first as a Red Fox.
The Red Foxes have found great success on the road this year, as this win is their third in as many matches. Marist is the only Metro team without a loss on the road, although it is also one of just two programs without a win at home.
This is Sacred Heart’s first regular-season conference loss of the last two years after the Pio’s lone conference in 2025 came in the championship match, a 2-1 at-home loss to Siena. These two sides have met only three times prior, and only once in conference play, with Sacred Heart winning 3-0 in Poughkeepsie last year.
Marist head coach Matt Viggiano made two changes to the XI for this match, but only one swap. Junior goalkeeper Alex Murania, who’s been splitting time with freshman Gavin Mitlitksi, got the nod in net, while junior midfielder Gijs Verheul dropped to center back, swapping places with sophomore defender Miles Douglas.
Murania only needed to make one save tonight, which doesn’t add much to the Red Foxes’ 23 total saves, the lowest number in the Metro. This win is cause for celebration for the junior, though, as his first start on the road resulted in his first collegiate victory.
Neither program looked particularly lively in the first half, as the two put up just eight shots combined, split evenly, with three of them forcing a save. Marist did take four corners, all within the first 10 minutes, which amounted to nothing.
Two of the Pioneers’ shots came in quick succession after the first quarter of an hour, when junior forward Brady Poor dragged his one-on-one chance wide, and graduate student defender Daniel Losfablos—a unanimous preseason All-Metro selection—just missed a 25-yard shot over the net.
Sophomore winger Adriano Iannello created a few chances in the first half for Marist, but junior forward Chris Verheul couldn’t convert his header on the first one, and the referee saw no foul on his second.
Junior forward Ivan Morcillo, another of the Pioneers’ preseason All-Metro selections, thought he broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute with a beautiful first-time volley, but the linesman’s flag was up for offsides, and the call was upheld after review.
After getting treated for a potential injury both on and off the field in the first half, Velings put Marist ahead at the hour mark. Sophomore defender Will Salivonchik got the assist, his first of the year. Velings’ goal is just the second of his four-year career, and the first in over 30 matches.
Chris Verheul, who was subbed off in the 37th minute and re-entered in the 55th, tied for the game lead in shots in this one, firing three attempts at freshman goalkeeper Anthony Suarez. Suarez, a recent Metro Defensive Player of the Week winner, made five saves in his eighth start of the season.
Junior midfielder Daniel Pineda nearly brought his team level in the 83rd minute when his long-range effort forced a dive out of Murania, although the attempt rolled just wide of the frame.
Senior defender Ethan Ortiz went down with cramp just moments later and was replaced by junior midfielder Nathan Karanganwa. Karanganwa slotted in alongside Gijs Verheul and Douglas, both of whom performed diligently in their changed roles, as the Red Foxes packed it in defensively.
Sacred Heart going goalless marked the second such occasion for them this season, as well as Marist’s second time shutting out an opponent. Both came at home for the Pioneers, who were beaten 2-0 by the 2024 National Champions, the University of Vermont.
This win moves Marist to 1-1-0 in Metro play as the Red Foxes enter a stretch of eight games in 23 days, including five on the road.
Marist’s next game comes at home against Iona on Saturday 6:30 p.m. during Marist’s Family Weekend. Iona comes in with six wins in a row against the Red Foxes dating back to 2018.
Edited by Max Rosen
Graphic by Isabel Cortese
Photo Michael O’Neil
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