Grand Rapids, Mich. — The defense didn't allow a goal for a third straight game and the offense was clicking with three different goal scorers to aid the Aquinas men's soccer team to a 3-0 road victory Wednesday evening (Oct. 12) over in-city rival Cornerstone.

The Saints improved to 7-4-2 overall (4-1-1 WHAC) with their fourth straight win over the Golden Eagles (5-4-4, 2-3-1 WHAC). The last time AQ lost to Cornerstone was Sept. 26, 2018. 

Jai Tahlan, Mason Sills and Ricardo Rittersberger made sure it stayed that way by providing the three Aquinas' goals on Wednesday. 

Tahlan opened the scoring with an outside of the box, upper-90 strike in the 18th minute. Defender Joe Lockey provided the assist. It was Tahlan's second goal of the season.

The Saints led 1-0 at halftime, outshooting Cornerstone 8-3. AQ got more shots off in the second half and were rewarded with two more goals.

First, Sills notched his team-leading eighth goal of the season. Liam Travers and Fin Pittock were credited with the rare double assist for the run up to the goal. Then, Rittersberger finished things off in the 77th minute off a cross from Milan Hoefnagels. It was Rittersberger's fourth goal of the season and the first assist for Hoefnagels.

The back line for Aquinas held Cornerstone to six shots (three on target). Defenders Andrea Ghiggini, Jesunifemi Ojutalayo and reigning NAIA Defensive Player of the Week Joshua Freeman-Wright all played 90 minutes in the shutout victory.

Senior goalkeeper Antonio Strassioto earned his seventh shutout of the season.

The Saints are back in action at 3 p.m. this Saturday (Oct. 15) with a home WHAC contest against Lourdes.