Late Goal Lifts Men's Soccer In Season Opener Over Nichols
FERRUOLO'S LATE GOAL
LIFTS MEN'S SOCCER PAST NICHOLS, 2-1
IN SEASON OPENER FOR BOTH TEAMS
DUDLEY, MA, Sept. 3, 2008 - A goal in the 88th minute by Elms College freshman forward Tom Ferruolo (Arlington, VT) lifted the Blazers to a 2-1 men's soccer victory over host Nichols College in the two teams' non-conference season opener Wednesday afternoon.
Ferruolo broke an 81-minute stalemate when his shot from the far right corner deflected off a Nichols' defender's head and past freshman netminder Brendan Hamilton (North Attleboro, MA).
The Bison took the lead just 33 seconds into the game and held a 4-3 shot-on-goal advantage at the half, but were hampered by a red card call in the 42nd minute, forcing the team to play down a player for the remainder of the game.
Sophomore midfielder Mark Capitanio (Mansfield, MA) put Nichols on the board after converting a long feed from sophomore defender Ryan Wytrych (Feeding Hills, MA), who sent the ball from midfield.
Junior defender Nick Bamford (Ludlow, MA) evened the score for the Blazers in the seventh minute, scoring on a long direct kick.
Despite playing down a man in the second half, Nichols held the Blazers to two shots in the frame. Junior midfielder Ben Masse (Chicopee, MA) threatened early in the stanza after stripping the ball from a defender at midfield and carrying it into the box, but the threat was ended with a wide shot.
Nichols picked up momentum late in the game, with freshman midfielder Eric Kelly (Dover Plains, NY) hitting a header off a corner in the 82nd minute, but Elms College freshman netminder Ryan Sullivan (Agawam, MA) came out to capture the ball. Less than a minute later, junior defender Sean Dorgan's (Methuen, MA) header off a long service from Wytrych sailed just high.
Sullivan earned the win in his collegiate debut with six saves, while Hamilton took the loss in his first career game with three stops.
Nichols maintained advantages in both corner kicks (5-1) and shots (7-5).
Elms College hosts Framingham State in its home opener on Saturday, September 6. Game time at Leary Field is set for 1:00 p.m.