Men's Soccer Runs Past Lasell, 9-1, for Season-Opening Win

Boston, Mass. - September 1, 2017 - The Springfield College men's soccer team started its 2017 campaign in impressive fashion, as the Pride picked up a 9-1 win over Lasell College on Friday afternoon at Taylor Field.

With the win, the Pride, which was receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Division III National Rankings, improves to 1-0, while the Lazers begin the season 0-1. Springfield College held a 36-4 shot advantage over 90 minutes, while also holding a 6-4 margin in corner kicks.

Junior midfielder Brad Deckel (Lansdale, Pa.) had a career day for Springfield College, as he picked up three goals, all in the second half. Senior midfielder Curtis Bolduc (South Windsor, Conn.) also had a pair of goals for the Pride, while Danny Murphy (Old Saybrook, Conn.) added a goal and a pair of assists. In net, sophomore goalkeeper Stewart Frank (Pittsford, N.Y.) picked up the win and made one save, while Marvyn Dorchin (Belmont, Mass.) and Dylan Ruzbasan (Palatine, Ill.) split the second half and kept the Lazers at bay. 

Murphy started the game's scoring in the ninth minute when he scored unassisted to give the Pride a 1-0 lead, before Schneider and Nick Fontana (Marshfield, Mass.) scored back-to-back goals, just 8:46 apart to give Springfield College a 3-0 lead over the Lazers. On Schneider's goal, Frank picked up his first-career point as he notched an assist, while Cam Powell (Housatonic, Mass.), picked up right where he left off in 2016 as he assisted Fontana's 29th minute strike.

Lasell countered with a goal of its own in the 36th minute when Matt Lasha (Litchfield, Conn.) took a pass from Connor Wall (East Hampton, Conn.) and found the back of the net to make it 3-1, Pride, heading into the halftime break.

Springfield College pushed its lead back to three just 1:35 into the second half when Murphy set up Curtis Bolduc (South Windsor, Conn.) for his first goal of the season, before the Pride made 5-1 on a strike from Deckel, also assisted by Murphy, with 39:08 to play in the game. From there, the Pride's offense exploded, as Bolduc registered his second of the game in the 55th minute, assisted by Schneider, before Deckel scored his second and third goal of the game just 2:07 apart to make it 8-1, Springfield College. 

The Pride tacked on its ninth goal of the game with 1:39 remaining when Tim Wood (Pinkerton, N.H.) took a pass from Douglas Enga (Syosset, N.Y.) and registered his first of the season to seal the 9-1 victory.

Up next, Springfield College will host Gordon College on Wednesday, September 6 at 4 p.m. on Brock-Affleck Field.