CALDWELL, N.J.- The Caldwell University men's soccer team jumped out to a first half lead and held off Chestnut Hill College 3-2 to win their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opener.
 
The Cougars improve to 3-2-0 and 1-0-0 in the CACC, while the Griffins drop to 0-4-3 overall and 0-1-1 in conference play.
 
Caldwell struck first as junior Andre Vieira (Union, N.J.) scored on a penalty kick in the eighth minute. The Griffins tied the game one minute later on an own goal.
 
The Cougars tacked on two more first half tallies as sophomore Israel Dos Santos Neto (Salvador Bahia, Brazil) put the Cougars up 2-1 with a goal in the 22nd minute.
 
Freshman Anton Paul (Dennery, St. Lucia) scored late in the half off a corner kick from graduate Mateo Cobos (Newark, N.J.) in the 41st minute.
 
Chestnut Hill cut the score to 3-2 in the 80th minute but the Cougar defense held strong down the stretch to help Caldwell to its first conference win of the season.
 
Freshman keeper Dylan Valencia (Elizabeth, N.J.) played all 90 minutes and recorded three saves.
 
The Cougars host Bloomfield College in a CACC contest on Wednesday, September 29 at 3:30 pm.