Coleman’s Header Lifts Men’s Soccer Past Newbury College, 2-1

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College junior forward Joseph Coleman (Easthampton, Mass.) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 52^nd minute of play as the Blazers downed Newbury College, 2-1 in Saturday afternoon's New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) men's soccer game at Leary Field.

With the win, Elms improves to 6-7-0 overall, 2-1-0 in conference action, while Newbury moves to 5-8-0 on the season, 3-1-0 in conference action.

Newbury wasted little time finding the back of the net as Emmett Dixon (Providence, R.I.) made a great run down the right wing and crossed into the middle where Rodriguez Pierre (Somerville, Mass.) scored in the left corner of the net to give the Nighthawks a 1-0 lead just 13 seconds into play.

Elms found the equalizer at the 40:14 mark when the Blazers were given a penalty kick which sophomore defender Connor O'Grady (Somers, Conn.) took advantage of and scored with his third goal of the season.

With the score level at 1-1 following intermission, the Blazers took the lead when junior midfielder Joelle Reyes (San Salvador, El Salvador) sent a beautiful ball towards goal which Coleman headed into the back of the net at the 51:45 mark to give Elms a 2-1 lead.

Newbury, which was limited to just two shots on goal in the second half, could not an equalizer as Elms held on for a 2-1 victory.

Blazers' junior defender Anthony Nitri (Feeding Hills, Mass.) thwarted the Nighthawks best chance at an equalizer five minutes after the go-ahead score by Coleman when he cleared the ball out from in front of the net to keep the game at 2-1.

Elms' sophomore net-minder Nick Pennant (Kingston, Jamaica) stopped two of the four offerings on target to help secure the win.

Newbury goalkeeper Cody Nash-Gibney (South Burlington, Vt.) made 17 saves including 11 in the first half in the losing effort.

Elms is back in action on Tuesday, October 15 when it hosts Southern Vermont College at 4:00 p.m. at Leary Field.