Pride score in each half to beat Viterbo 2-0

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Getting game action on their home turf for the first time in the 2024 season, the Clarke University men's soccer team earned their second-straight 2-0 shutout win in as many games to start the year as the defeated Viterbo Unviersity at Burrows Field on Tuesday night.

The Pride scored one goal each half as senior forward Luke Persenico was in on the action each time but only came away with one assist as he was saved on a penalty kick attempt in the first half before Eikichi Saito was first to the rebound to score the opening goal of the game in the 35th minute.

CU controlled a majority of play in the first half, outshooting the V-Hawks 7-1 but VU would rally back to get more chances in the second, testing Pride keeper Keegan Brennan in his first start for Clarke as the transfer from Marysville, Wash. would finish with a four-save performance for the shutout.

Clarke's back line of center backs Joshua Reddy and Nadji Rebai along with outside backs Ryui Akiyama and Xzavier Campa played strong games both limiting Viterbo chances and pushing the ball forward on attack as those four were the only non-goalie players for the Pride to play 80 or more minutes on a hot humid night in August.

Extra cushion was added in the 57th minute when Persenico assisted nicely on a Daniel Valverde goal where Persenico broke free towards the box and tapped a late short cross over to Valverde who finished into an open net.

After there two early non-conference games tonight and last Saturday, Clarke men's soccer will be on a fairly significant break before their next game action when they begin Heart of America Athletic Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 14 when they travel to Parkville, Mo. to face Park University.