Grand Rapids, Mich. — Tonight (Oct. 18) the Aquinas men's soccer team took the field against Siena Heights in conference play. AQ would put up three scores in the first half, swiftly establishing their lead. Aquinas put in one more in the second and the match would finish 4-0. AQ moves to 10-2-2 (6-1-1 WHAC) in the regular season.

The match was off to a physical start as both teams looked to strike first. Siena Heights held the ball for the first few minutes and would have pressure, but couldn't poke through the Aquinas defense. 

Ricardo Rittersberger capitalized on a SHU miscue and went the distance, beating out one defender with a slide tackle and then beat the keeper. Lifting Aquinas up 1-0 at just past the 12th minute mark. 

Just five minutes later Joe Lockey smacked the ball right into the boots of Tevan Jones, Jones bobbed and weaved through the defense as if he was the paint brush to a canvass and finished with a flourishing shot to the bottom left. Bringing Aquinas up, 2-0. 

Aquinas would be awarded a free kick at the right corner. At the end of the 22nd minute Yussef Hakmaoui lined up to take the kick. With a strike Hakmaoui lifted right in front of the goal and with a quick move Jesunifemi Ojutalayo would pierce the SHU goal line with a header. This makes for Ojutalayo's second goal of the season. Aquinas was up 3-0 just over 20 minutes into the contest.

No team managed to find the goal line for the rest of the first half.

Siena Heights would start the second half with a number of changes hoping to break the Aquinas defense. 

Both teams would find success in moving the ball up and down the pitch, but no one would manage to strike it in until the 78th minute. Aquinas gained possession and took it the distance down the left side. With pressure, Mason Sills forced his way into the box and rifled a shot to the bottom left corner. But the keeper managed to get a hand on it bouncing it out to the right.

Rittersberger was following the play all the way down the pitch and placed himself in the perfect spot to tap in Sill's rebound. Rittersberger found the goal for the second time, elevating the score to 4-0.

Rittersberger's two goals puts him in first place in the WHAC for goals on the season (14). Rittersberger is also currently ranked first in the WHAC in assists (7).

Aquinas shuts out another opponent for the 10th time this season, which makes eight clean sheets for Antonio Strassioto. Strassioto now holds second place in the WHAC in save percentage (.848). 

AQ is scheduled back to play on Saturday (Oct. 21) at home for Senior Day against Cleary with a 3 p.m. kickoff.