Men's Soccer, Rivier Battle to 1-1 Tie
MEN'S SOCCER, RIVIER BATTLE TO 1-1 TIE
CHICOPEE, MA, Oct. 9, 2006 - Elms College freshman forward Sean Moylan (Chicopee, MA) netted his second goal of the year and sophomore goalkeeper Nick Pellegrini (Ludlow, MA) stopped three shots, including a key stop late in regulation to help the Blazers earn a hard-fought 1-1 tie with Rivier College in Monday afternoon's non-conference men's soccer game at Leary Field.
Elms College extended its unbeaten streak to three games (2-0-1) and moved to 4-5-1 overall. Rivier, meanwhile, moved to 4-4-2 overall.
With the game tied at 1-1 in the 90th minute, Pellegrini dove to make a point-blank stop off Rivier freshman forward Gustavo Marques (Lowell, MA) inside the six-yard box to preserve the tie and send the game to overtime.
The Blazers had three quality chances to win the game in the first overtime, but came up empty each time.
In the 92nd minute, senior defender Jay Ciesluk (Amherst, MA) sent freshman midfielder Ben Masse (Chicopee, MA) on a breakaway with a beautiful one-touch pass, but Rivier senior goalkeeper Victor Joubert (Haverhill, MA) made a gorgeous stop.
Four minutes later, Masse intercepted a clear and blasted a shot, but Joubert once again made a diving stop to send the game on.
Joubert was equal to the task one final time with 1:20 remaining in the first overtime when he made a sensational point-blank, goal-line stop off a shot by junior midfielder Nda Kaslong (Jos, Nigeria).
From there, neither team had a quality opportunity in the second overtime.
Rivier senior forward Josh Flanagan (Bradford, MA) had given the Raiders a quick 1-0 lead in the 15th minute off a beautiful series of quick passes from junior midfielder Gianfranco Pisano (Lynnfield, MA) and freshman midfielder Maicon Januario (Lowell, MA).
Moylan responded for the Blazers just 3:44 into the second half when he split a pair of defenders, broke in alone and blasted a shot past Rivier senior goalkeeper Victor Joubert (Haverhill, MA) to knot the game at 1-1.
The Blazers carried play over the final 10 minutes of regulation and nearly netted the go-ahead goal three times in that stretch.
Moylan sent senior midfielder Matt Kapinos (Ludlow, MA) in alone with 7:14 remaining, but Joubert came off his line to make a smothering stop.
Then, in the 87th minute, freshman defender Jon D'Amours (Chicopee, MA) sent a header off a Kapinos' corner kick just wide.
Rivier junior defender Grant Krogman (Glens Falls, NY) saved the day for the visiting Raiders when he cleared a loose ball off the goal line with 1:43 remaining in regulation.
Elms College returns to North Atlantic Conference (NAC) play with a game at Lasell College on Wednesday, October 11. Game time is 3:30 p.m.