THROGGS NECK, NY – Behind a combination of stout defense and stellar goalkeeping, the Maritime College men's soccer team (0-0-1) began its 2024 campaign with a 0-0 draw against Eastern Mennonite (0-0-1) at Reinhart Field on Friday night.  The Privateers were outshot 19-12 in the game, including a 9-2 disparity in shots on goal, but Augusto Lebron (Valley Stream, NY) made nine saves to keep the Royals off the scoreboard.

Lebron faced an early flurry of shots, notching a pair of saves in the first 90 seconds of the contest.  Maritime, meanwhile, had its best scoring chance in the 17^th minute, when Jack Young's (Floral Park, NY) deep blast was stopped.  Eastern Mennonite then nearly took the lead late in the first half.  After the Royals earned a deep throw in, Josiah King sent one towards the net that Lebron just got his fingertips on in the 43^rd minute.  The flurry continued with two different Eastern Mennonite players hitting the crossbar before the half concluded.

In the second half, Young had an early attempt for the Privateers before the Royals put three shots on Lebron.  He saved them all, however, to keep the game scoreless.  A Maritime yellow card set up one last Eastern Mennonite opportunity in the 87^th minute.  Lebron held off Kaden Schrock's attempt, though, and the contest ended in a 0-0 deadlock.

The shutout was Lebron's (0-0-1) third career clean sheet.  Eastern Mennonite goalkeeper Andrew Arledge (0-0-1), meanwhile, was credited with two saves in his shutout.

This was the first of four straight home games to start the season for the Privateers.  Up next for Maritime is a 7 p.m. matchup against Medgar Evers (0-1-0) on Wednesday.