Penalty Kicks Lift Men's Soccer To NECC Championship Match

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Third-seeded Elms College prevailed over two-seed Lesley University on penalty kicks after playing to a 0-0 draw in their New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Semifinal tilt at Edwards Field Friday night.

In the penalty kick round, the sides traded conversions as senior C.J. Dabkowski (Bristol, Conn.) and junior Colby Macdonald (Bristol, Conn.) matched successful attempts with Lesley senior Anthony Vitta (Oceanside, N.Y.) and sophomore Ben Heischuber (Holliston, Mass.) to put the teams at 2-2. After an attempt from Elms senior Justin Kassouf (Milford, Conn.) sailed over the goal, Blazers freshman keeper AJ Oliviera (Beacon Falls, Conn.) denied Lesley freshman Carter Bliss (Roseville, Calif.) to maintain even score. Elms claimed the berth in the Championship match as senior Kahlil Peters (Hartford, Conn.) and junior Anthony Romei (Enfield, Conn.) sandwiched successful attempts around a miss from Lesley senior Nuno Pereira (Sao Felipe, Fogo, Cape Verde).

The Blazers and the Lynx finished even in the shot column, 13-13, during the contest. Oliviera recorded three saves in the win, while Lesley senior James Webb (San Francisco, Calif.) stopped a match-high ten shots.

The Blazers (8-11-1) will face off with top-seeded Mitchell College for the 2017 NECC Championship at Alumni Field Sunday at Noon. The Lynx wrapped up the 2017 season with a 9-8-2 mark.

ELMS SOCCER