LANCASTER, Pa. – The Connecticut College men's soccer team used two goals in extra time to come away with a 3-1 win after extra time over Denison College on Friday night at Tylus Field in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. With the win, Conn improves to 12-1-5 on the year, while Denison ends the year at 12-5-3.
Conn (12-1-5) started quickly, earning three corner kicks in the opening three minutes. On the third corner, Alessandro Horvath Diano's (Budapest, Hungary) found the head of Marco Cerezo (Malaga, Spain) who flicked the ball to the back post where Jack Marvel (Marion, Mass.) headed it home to put the Camels up 1-0. It did not take Denison (12-5-3) long to answer however, as the Big Red was awarded a corner kick in the 13th minute. On the ensuing corner, Rohan Tripathy redirected the ball into the goal to tie the game at one. Both sides settled in after the opening goals, as the game remained tied 1-1 at the break.
The Camels started quickly in the second half, as Christian Perugini (Medway, Mass.) forced a fantastic save from Denison's keeper Tommy Prokos, to keep the game level. In the 49th minute, Conn looked to go ahead as Matt Scoffone (Thornton, Pa.) was played in on goal, but once again Prokos kept the Camels at bay. With time winding down in regulation, Denison had a chance to jump in front, but the shot went wide, as the teams headed to overtime tied at one.
The Big Red started quickly in the first overtime, but Peter Silvester (Smiths Parish, Bermuda) kept the game tied. Midway through the frame, Elliot Spatz (Bellevue, Wash.) was taken down in the box, and awarded a penalty. Spatz stepped up to the spot and put the ball down the middle to give the Camels a 2-1 lead.
In the second overtime period, Denison was able to fire off an early shot, but once again Silvester was ready. Dylan Zane (Montego Bay, Jamaica) got taken down in the box as Conn was awarded a second penalty. Scoffone stepped up and his initial shot was stopped, but he followed it up, and put it in the goal to give the Camels a 3-1. Conn held on to come away with the 3-1 win.
Conn outshot Denison 22-14 overall, holding a 10-6 edge, with a 10-3 advantage on corner kicks.
Silvester had a strong game in goal, making five saves on six shots. Marvel, Scoffone, and Spatz led the attack, as each tallied one goal, while Cerezo and Horvath Diano both added an assist. Scoffone and Spatz both also led Conn with three shots on goal a piece.
Prokos was solid in net for the Big Red, making seven saves on 10 shots.Tripathy tallied the lone Denison goal, while Kameron Kist picked up an assist.
Conn continues their run in the NCAA tournament tomorrow, taking on Franklin and Marshall at 6:00 p.m. in Lancaster, Pa.
