Men's Soccer Bags First Win on Senior Day
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lesley (0-15-1, 0-4-1) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
|
Mitchell (1-11-4, 1-2-3) | 1 | 3 | 4 |
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's soccer team picked up its first win of the season on a rainy Saturday afternoon, defeating Lesley University by a 4-2 final in New England Collegiate Conference action.
The Mariners trailed 2-1 at halftime but fought back with three unanswered goals over the final 45 minutes. Noslin Antunez netted the equalizer in the 52nd minute, and just over a minute later Cristian Barrales tacked on the go-ahead score that put the Mariners on top for good.
Mason Rubino and Nicholas Ghirardi also pocketed goals for Mitchell, which improved to 1-11-4 overall and 1-2-3 in league play. The Mariners also secured the third seed for the upcoming NECC Championship, which opens with semifinal rounds on November 3.
Barry Mamadou accounted for both of Lesley's goals on the day. The Lynx wrapped up the regular season with a record of 0-16-1 (0-5-1 NECC) and will be the fourth seed in the conference tournament.
Following a senior day celebration in which seven seniors were honored, Mitchell jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to Rubino's second goal in as many games. The play started with a throw-in by Daniel Hotaling from the opposite side of the midfield stripe, which found Barrales open down the right sideline. Barrales looped a ball into the box for Rubino, who then tucked away his third marker of the season.
Mamadou tied the game in the 27th minute on a frenzy in front of the Mitchell goal. After goalkeeper Joey Rosa unched away a service ball, Lesley's Daniel Monteserin got off two shots on goal that were stopped by Mitchell defenders. Patrick Gomes made the initial stop before Hotaling followed suit at the near post, although the rebound was quickly finished off by Mamadou.
The Lynx went on top 2-1 in the 42nd minute as Mamadou completed the bracket. Daniel Canellys set up the goal by dribbling past a defender on the right wing to send a service ball inside the box. Mamadou, unchecked at the top of the goal box, finished off the cross with his right foot for his second tally of the season.
Mitchell changed the momentum early in the second half with goals that were 86 seconds apart. Antunez ripped a shot from just outside the penalty area on the right corner and stuck his first career goal inside the far post. Moments later, Matt Ladd served up a free kick from the right sideline that connected with Barrales for his first tally of the year.
Rosa and the Mitchell defense protected the 3-2 margin for the rest of the half. The Mariners got some breathing room in the 83rd minute when Nolan Clack drew a foul in the box, and Ghirardi converted the ensuing penalty kick to make it a 4-2 game. The goal was his team-leading fourth of the season.
Rosa's sixth and final save of the day came with 1:30 remaining, when he denied a shot by Ian Charles with a diving stop to his right. The senior transfer, who landed at Mitchell after stops at Lasell and Keene State, earned his first collegiate win in goal.
Lesley keeper Michael Bolduc finished with six saves, including a stop against a penalty kick in the first half.
Prior to the game the Mariners honored Patrick Gomes, Ruben Gomes, Chad-Wayne Hopkins, Hotaling, Bryan Ramos, Rosa and Rubino in a special ceremony. All but Rosa were four-year letterwinners for the Mariners.
