Selinsgrove, Pa. – The Catholic University of America men's soccer team has clinched a spot in the 2014 Landmark Conference Championship after shutting out the Susquehanna University Crusaders 3-0 on Saturday.

The win improves the Cardinals to 5-1-1 in the Landmark Conference, with an overall record of 8-5-2.  Susquehanna is now 0-7-0 in the conference and 4-12-2 on the season.

With a playoff spot on the line the Cardinals took to the field and put an early goal in the net. In the seventh minute of play both the Cards and Crusaders attempted to gain possession after Connor Keale sent the ball into the 18 yard box. Ben Fleri then got his foot on the ball, after it popped out of the scrum, and sent it into the goal, for 1-0 CUA lead.

Throughout the remainder of the first half, neither team was able to connect the ball with the net. The Cardinals took two additional shots on goal that were unsuccessful, as the Susquehanna goaltender Zach Zoller made both stops. 

The Crusaders took a total of four shots in the first half, but Torsten Meuschke defended the goal flawlessly, letting nothing through.

The Cardinals returned from the halftime break and advanced their score with an early second half goal.

CUA's Joe Taylor put the ball into play from a corner kick in the 53rd minute. The Crusaders defense gained possession, but failed to clear the ball. Hunter Horvath recovered the ball just outside the penalty box and fired the shot inside the left post. The scoreboard read 2-0 in favor of the Cardinals.

At the 69:36 mark, Catholic earned their next corner kick opportunity. Taylor took the kick and sent the ball flying to the back post. Heston Priestley found the ball in the air and headed the it into the net for CUA's third goal of the match.

The Cards outshot the Crusaders 21-14 during the full 90 minutes of play. Fleri led the offense in shots, by taking four, while Tyler Zimmerman and Sean Adams each took three.

The Crusaders took seven shots in the contest with Meuschke making all seven saves.

"It was an important game, we had to come out and play hard," said CUA Head Men's Soccer Coach Travis Beauchamp. "When you're battling at team that is struggling it is important to get an early goal and we were able to do that."

The Catholic University of America men's soccer game will wrap up their regular season at the CUA Soccer field with a 1:00 p.m. contest against Juniata College on Saturday, November 1.

Notes: The men's soccer team will host the semifinal round of the Landmark Conference Championship Tournament on Wednesday, November 5 at 2:30 p.m. The opponent will be announced at a later date.

-CUA-