Men's Soccer Shutout By Springfield, 2-0
MEN'S SOCCER SHUTOUT BY SPRINGFIELD, 2-0
CHICOPEE, MA, Sept. 9, 2008 - Elms College freshman goalkeeper Ryan Sullivan (Agawam, MA) turned aside 14 shots, but Springfield College senior defender Myles Tilton (Plymouth, MA) and junior forward John Plourd (Southampton, MA) scored a goal in each half to help send Springfield College to a 2-0 win over the Blazers in Saturday afternoon's non-conference men's soccer match at Leary Field.
Springfield won the first-ever meeting between the two teams to improve to 2-1-1. Elms College, meanwhile, fell to 2-2.
Tilton gave the Pride a quick 1-0 lead in the 14th minute when he collected a beautiful one-touch pass by senior midfielder Jeremy Scheer (Enfield, CT), then broke down the wing and chipped a shot over Sullivan just inside the far post.
Springfield sophomore goalkeeper Drew Keleher (Columbia, CT) preserved the 1-0 lead in the 39th minute when he made a sensational sprawling stop on a shot by Elms College senior forward Brian Murca (Chicopee, MA), who had fought off a pair of defenders and broke in alone at the top of the penalty area.
The Pride, which held a decisive 35-8 advantage in shots, were unable to put the stubborn Blazers away until Plourd's insurance tally in the 87th minute.
After Sullivan came up with an eye-popping, point-blank save on Brian McElwee's shot deep inside the penalty area, Plourd's follow-up shot was blocked by an Elms College defender before he gathered his own rebound and hammered home his first goal of the season.
Keleher registered three saves for his first win of the year for the Pride, who also held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Elms College returns to non-conference play on Tuesday, September 16 at Regis. Game time is 4:00 p.m.