EAST BOSTON – Suffolk men's soccer handled Emmanuel in its 2024 season debut, 4-1, Friday afternoon at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 4 | Emmanuel 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-0-0) | Emmanuel (0-1-0)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk took a 3-1 lead into the locker room.  

The Rams first goal of the season came off a penalty kick as Francisco Valck converted the PK at the 24:01 minute mark of the opening half. Six minutes later, the sophomore scored his second of the day with help from Diego Pierantozzi to pad the blue-and-gold's lead to a pair. 

Emmanuel responded 1:15 later when Cam Naples scored with no help to trim Suffolk's advantage in half. 

Miguel Varela restored the two goal gap with just over five minutes to play before halftime when he put away Jeremy Cooke's set-up to make it 3-1. 

Suffolk stretched its lead to three in the 55th minute when Damon Smargon put away a penalty kick.  

Emmanuel was limited to just one shot the rest of the way, which was blocked by the blue-and-gold's defense to keep things 4-1 in Suffolk's favor.  

KEEPING UP WITH THE KEEPERS

• Nathan Harlow logged the win in net with a five save effort. 
• Maddox Pierce took the setback. He did not stop any of the four shots he faced.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Valck paced Suffolk's offensive output with a two-goal effort. 
• Varela and Smargon scored one goal apiece. 
• Pierantozzi and Cooke recorded one assist each. 
• Emmanuel outshot Suffolk, 15-10. 
• The Saints took more corner kicks as well, 3-2. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk won its fourth straight season opener. 
• The Rams have opened the season in the win column. It is the most season-opening wins in a row since Suffolk began seven straight seasons with victories from 2004 through 2010. 
• Suffolk played at home for its season debut for the first time since 2022. 
• Since 2002, the Rams are 14-7-1 in the first test of the year.
• The Rams are 9-2-0 when opening the curtain on their campaign in front of their home crowd since 2002.
• The blue-and-gold is unbeaten in game one under Bill Maddock's guidance, 4-0-0.
• In the Maddock era, Suffolk has outscored its foes 13-3 in the first outing of the year. 
• The Rams tangled with Emmanuel in the first game of the season for the second time and second time in as many years.
• Suffolk is undefeated 2-0-0 in game one versus the Saints.
• Suffolk defeated Emmanuel for the second straight meeting. It is the first time the Rams coupled wins in a row since winning back-to-back games 2015-16.
• The Rams are now 12-9-1 all-time against Emmanuel. 
• At home, Suffolk holds a 7-5-0 mark versus the Saints. 
• The blue-and-gold is 2-2-0 versus Emmanuel with Maddock on the bench. 
• The three-goal margin of victory is the largest since a 3-0 victory Sept. 19, 2022.
• Suffolk put away two penalty kicks for the first time dating back to 2015.
• Valck is the first Ram to put away a PK since Pierantozzi did so in a 4-1 win at Endicott, Sept. 23, 2023.
• Smargon tied his career high in goals scored.  
• Cooke matched a career-high with one assist.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Rams hit the road for the first time Sunday, Sept. 1 when they visit Brandeis for a 1 p.m. battle.