Blazers Come Up Short In Back-And-Forth Battle With Mitchell

Blazers Come Up Short In Back-And-Forth Battle With Mitchell

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Mitchell College men's soccer team got the final word in a back-and-forth battle against Elms College at  Leary Field on Tuesday, scoring an 80th-minute goal to earn a 4-3 New England Collegiate Conference win over the Blazers.

Mitchell (6-7, 4-2 NECC) opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Jack Cullen (Pawcatuck, Conn.) struck after collecting a loose ball inside the box. Elms (4-10-1, 3-2-1 NECC) evened the score in the 26th minute when Tyler Hesselton (Leicester, Mass.) found Michael Campos (Naugatuck, Conn.) at the top of the box, who took two touches before evening the score at 1-1. Ten minutes later Quinn Outerbridge (Hamilton, Bermuda) put the Mariners ahead 2-1 when he settled a ball off the fingertips of Elms goalkeeper A.J. Oliveira (Beacon Falls, Conn.) and rifled it home.

Mitchell built its largest advantage of the afternoon early in the second half. David Hernandez (Norwich, Conn.) found an open Bryan Ramos (Hull, Mass.) in the box and Ramos delivered the third Mitchell goal of the contest to put the Mariners ahead 3-1 in the 51st minute.

Mitchell's two-goal advantage was short-lived, however. Just two minutes and ten seconds later, Pedro Duarte (Chicopee, Mass.) fired a close-range shot that was saved, but not secured, but MC goalkeeper Seth Strader (Preston, Conn.). Duarte corralled the rebound and did not miss on his second attempt, beating Strader to the near side to cut the Blazer deficit to 3-2.

Elms evened the score in the 76th minute when Mitchell was whistled for a hand-ball in the box. Anthony Romei (Enfield, Conn.) converted the ensuing penalty kick to knot the score at 3-3.

It took just four minutes, however, for the Mariners to get the game-winner as Christian Urena (Griswold, Conn.) got on the end of a through ball from Outerbridge and beat Oliveira for the decisive goal.

Elms finished the contest with a 14-11 advantage in shots and a 6-4 edge in corner kicks. Each team finished with seven shots on-goal and Strader came up with four saves for the Mariners while Oliveira made three for Elms.

The Blazers will return to action on Saturday when NECC-newcomer Eastern Nazarene visits Leary Field in the regular-season home finale. Mitchell will host WPI in non-conference action on Oct. 21.