Grand Rapids, Mich. — The Aquinas men's soccer team was opportunistic on Saturday (Oct. 7) in a 3-0 home victory over the University of Northwestern Ohio Racers.

The Saints (8-2-1, 4-1 WHAC) used two penalty kick goals and a well-taken strike from outside the 18-yard box by Yussef Hakmaoui to down the Racers (2-7-3, 1-2-2 WHAC) and keep their place near the top of the conference standings.

Following 40 minutes of scoreless soccer, Mason Sills got behind UNOH's backline and was taken down in the box after dribbling past the goalkeeper. The whistle blew.

Andrea Ghiggini then stepped up to the penalty spot and picked out the bottom left corner to give Aquinas a 1-0 lead going into halftime.

Sills and Joshua Clemitson provided the passes that led to Yussef Hakmaoui doubling AQ's advantage in the 73rd minute. Hakmaoui picked his head up and smashed in the only goal of the game from open play. His swerving shot ended up in the top left corner.

It was the fourth goal of the season for both Ghiggini and Hakmaoui.

With three and a half minutes to play in regulation, the Racers weren't able to keep Ricardo Rittersberger off the score sheet. Rittersberger was also taken down inside the 18-yard box and took matters into his own hands. With no hesitation, he buried his team-leading 12th goal of the season from the penalty spot.

Rittersberger is now tied for fifth in the NAIA with 12 goals and 31 points.

The Saints are also 7-for-7 on penalty kicks this season.

Defensively, AQ senior goalkeeper Antonio Strassioto made three saves to pick up his fifth shutout this season. Helping him to his clean sheet were defenders Clemitson, Joe Lockey, Jesunifemi Ojutalayo and Josh Freeman-Wright.

Aquinas now turns its attention to Cornerstone. The Saints host the Golden Eagles at 7 p.m. Wednesday night (Oct. 11) at the AQ Athletic Complex. Aquinas has won the last four meetings between the two rivals.