MANCHESTER, N.H. - Junior forward J.P. Herring (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) scored the game's only goal in the 14th minute to propel the Caldwell College men's soccer team to a season-opening 1-0 victory over Merrimack College Sunday afternoon at the Merrimack College Tournament, hosted by St. Anselm College. The Cougars opened the season 1-0 for the second straight year, while handing Merrimack (3-1) their first loss of the season.

The game-winning goal was set up by junior forward Bard Skjelstad (Bodo, Norway), who intercepted a back pass intended for Warriors' goalkeeper Ted Kakambouras and dropped a pass to Herring. Herring then chipped a shot over Kakambouras and into the open goal from about 20 yards out.

Senior goalkeeper Mike Turdo (West Paterson, NJ/Passaic Valley), pictured, stopped three first-half shots, including a diving save to his left from about eight yards out in the 10th minute, to earn the shutout. The Cougars were out-shot 18-12 in the game, although Caldwell had seven shots on goal to Merrimack's three.

Both teams were ranked in the final 2004 New England Region poll, with the Cougars ranked seventh and the Warriors ranked fifth.

Caldwell takes on another regional foe in St. Anselm on Monday at 12:00 p.m.

CC - 1 0 - 1

MC  - 0 0 - 0

Scoring Summary: 1. CC - JP Herring 1 (Bard Skjelstad), 13:25.

Shots: CC - 12; MC - 18

Saves: CC - Mike Turdo, 3; MC - Ted Kakambouras, 5; Team, 1

Corners: CC - 3; MC - 9

Fouls: CC - 22; MC - 7

Offsides: CC - 2; MC - 4

Cautions: CC - Jiras (24:27), Walker (46:09); MC - Dubois (31:07), Garcia (43:37)