LAKEWOOD, NJ (Oct. 5, 2024) - Georgian Court Men's Soccer continues to roll, led by their defense who pitched another shutout en route to a 2-0 win, their fifth in a row. The win puts the Lions over. 500 for the first time this season at 5-4-1 and they improve to 3-1 in the CACC.

How it Happened
• Ayendi Batista had to be on his game as Bridgeport took 17 shots, putting nine on net. The Lions totaled just 10 with four hitting the cage.
• Georgian Court also survived nine Bridgeport corner kicks, while taking just four themselves.
• The Lions were called for 15 fouls and two yellow cards while the Purple Knights were stopped for 10 fouls and booked three yellows.
• All five cards were issued in the final 23 minutes.
• As is common with the Lions this season, they like to score early. GCU got off two quick shots in the first five minutes, but couldn't connect.
• That changed nearly 10 minutes in. The Lions had a corner kick and with Bridgeport unable to clear, Mikey Mallon passed to an open Maurice Engl who pushed the shot back in the direction it came from and into the net for the game's first tally. 
• Engl's low shot was redirected high over the keeper off the foot of a Bridgeport defender.
• Batista came up with some big saves, including three in the final two minutes of the half to keep the lead 1-0 in favor of the Lions.
• A little more than 10 minutes into the second half, perhaps the biggest save of the game came not from Batista, but Robbie Tapp. A Purple Knight pass into the box seemed destined for an open Ali El Mardenly, but Tapp's tackle seeming came out of the nowhere the push the ball away and vanquish the scoring chance. 
• Not long after, he Lions second goal also came after a corner kick. The original corner was pushed out, but Jack Pollintine-Smith was there to settle it down. He pushed it back into the box where Gijs van Eif used his 6-2 frame to head the ball over the keeper and into the net.
• Frustration started to take hold near the end of the game with five cards coming in the final 23 minutes. Most came from Bridgeport with more than one card as a result of their dissent of the officials.
• The Lions defense was sharp, as was Batista who made three more saves in the final 10 minutes to hang on for another shutout win.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Gijs van Eif scored on a team-high three shots on goal.
• Maurice Engl's only shot found the back of the net.
• Mikey Mallon and Jack Pollintine-Smith gathered assists.
• Ayendi Batista made nine save for the win.

For the Purple Knights
• Gianny Provincial stopped two shots headed towards the net.
• Enzo Beatrix had a game-high four shots.

News and Notes
• The winning streak continues for the Lions who have now won five in a row. 
• Georgian Court improves to 3-0 against the Purple Knights in CACC regular season games.
• Ayendi Batista has his fourth shutout in the last five games. That moves him to a tie for fourth all-time in career shutouts and tied for third all-time in single-season shutouts.
• Gijs van Eif is now in the Lions all-time top-10 for single-season goals after scoring his seventh this year. His 11 career goals moves him up to eighth. 

Up Next
• Georgian Court remains at home next week when they host Wilmington Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 3 p.m.