Men's Soccer Holds Off Suffolk for 2-1 Win
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Suffolk (2-10-1) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
|
Mitchell (4-7-0) | 1 | 1 | 2 |
NEW LONDON, Conn. – Mitchell College picked up a non-conference men's soccer victory over Suffolk University on Wednesday afternoon, winning by a 2-1 final at Alumni Field.
The Mariners scored the first two goals of the game and held off the Rams down the stretch. William Ferguson and Eduardo Tineo each found the back of the net for Mitchell, which improved to 4-7-0 overall on the season. Goalkeeper Seth Strader finished with five saves, two of which came on diving stops in the late stages to protect the lead.
Simon Velez Angel netted the lone goal for Suffolk, which dropped to 2-10-1. Goalkeeper Tom Bennett stopped five shots to keep the Rams in the game.
Bennett was busy in the early going as Mitchell produced three quality chances in the opening 15 minutes. Daniel Hotaling put a pair of shots on goal while James Shea added another on a free kick just outside the box, but all three attempts were denied by Bennett.
The Mariners finally broke through in the 20th minute when Ferguson scored his third goal of the season. The play began with a corner kick into the box that Ferguson flicked off a defender before circling around and volleying a left-footed shot on goal. The ball slipped under the crossbar from 18 yards out to put Mitchell on the board at 1-0.
That margin carried into the halftime break, but the Mariners were quick to add to the lead in the second half. Just 58 seconds in, Ferguson found Tineo at the corner of the 18-yard box off a restart in the midfield. Tineo took a touch across the top of the box to create space before lacing a shot inside the left post for his first marker of the season.
After falling behind 2-0, Suffolk came to life and responded with a goal in the 53rd minute. Sal Perrotto served up a beautiful corner kick to the near post for Angel, who headed home his third tally of the season to close the gap back to one.
The Rams nearly tied the game in the 77th minute, but Strader made a diving stop against Leonardo Acosta that kept the Mariners in front. Strader also made a crucial save in the 88th minute, the result of which was a Suffolk corner kick. On the ensuing restart, James Fisher put a header on frame that was cleared off the goal line by Mason Rubino to erase a potential equalizer. Suffolk managed one more shot in the final moments of the contest, but time eventually ran out on the visitors.
Mitchell will next host New England College on Saturday, October 13 at 2 p.m. Suffolk returns to action at home against Anna Maria College on Saturday at 1 p.m.
