Grand Rapids, MI – Saints Nation cranked up the volume for the home opener at the AQ Athletic Field with Taylor. From the first whistle, it was high tempo, hard tackles, and a Saints side that pressed together, defended together, and finished together. In the first half it looked like the offense was still searching for answers, as AQ trailed 1–0 at the break, but in the second half the levee broke and the Saints secured win number one of 2025.

Aquinas 3, Taylor 1

After weathering early pressure, Dario Cela kept the Saints within striking distance with key stops, including a point-blank denial in the 12th minute. Veterans Eddie Hudson III and Timothy Phillips Jr. anchored a composed back line, with Phillips forcing a save on a driven header to spark AQ's first sustained spell.

The equalizer arrived just 97 seconds into the second half: Evan Goodfellow darted into space and buried the finish off a sharp feed from Trae Collins (46:37). The Saints kept the foot down, winning territory and first balls as Aidan Bennett tested the keeper with a glancing header and Collins continued to knit attacks together.

Momentum paid off again in the 65th minute when Joseph Farhat smashed home the go-ahead goal, set up by an overlapping Carter Kerbawy (64:20). Farhat kept asking questions with another on-frame effort minutes later as AQ's press and ball-winning tilted the field.

Captain Fikret Hasovic slammed the door in the 80th minute, coolly converting from the spot to make it 3–1 and ignite the home crowd. Earlier, Asmir Hujdurovic had forced a save to help change the tempo, while Goodfellow and Collins combined all half to keep Taylor's back line off balance.

Inside the Numbers

• Second-half surge: AQ scored all three goals after halftime.
• Cela: 7 saves in the victory.
• Shots on goal: Aquinas 10, Taylor 7.
• Helpers: Collins and Kerbawy with the assists; Hasovic sealed it from the spot at 79:52.

Coaches' Comments
Head Coach Luke Ruff talked about the game and his team following the contest: "We asked the group to respond at halftime, and they did exactly that. The energy from our leaders set the tone, our depth made a real impact, and once we started winning the little moments, the goals came. I'm proud of the mentality—and this is the standard we want to carry into the rest of the season."

Up Next
The Saints will return to action on Homecoming Saturday, following the Women's Soccer game, at 3:00 PM. Be sure to check out AQSaints.com for information, stats and a recap of all the action.