LAS VEGAS, Nev.– Alessandro Horvath Diano's (New Haven, Conn.) free kick goal in the 60th minute propelled the Connecticut College men's soccer team past No. 21 Washington and Lee 1-0 on Thursday night from Peter Johann Memorial Field. With the win, Conn improves to 14-2-7 on the year, while Washington and Lee conclude the season at 15-4-6.
It was a cagey opening 45 minutes, as neither side wanted to give an inch. Conn had the first look at goal, after the Camels were awarded a corner kick in the 12th minute. The ball was played in the box to Jack Kelesoglu (Westfield, N.J.) who headed towards goal, with Marco Perugini (Medway, Mass.) deflecting it to the net, but Will Joseph came up with the save.
Just over 11 minutes later, Washington and Lee nearly opened the scoring as PJ Ryan let a shot go that Peter Silvester (Smiths Parish, Bermuda) deflected off the crossbar to keep the game scoreless. Silvester added two more saves later in the half, as the game remained deadlocked at the break.
"We definitely asked a lot of them," said Silvester regarding the play of the defense in front of him. "When you're a ball playing team and you high press, you leave a lot of space to protect behind them. Washington and Lee has one of the best attackers in the country and I think they did a very good job of dealing with him."
Silvester was called upon early again in the second half, as the senior net minder came up with two more saves in the first two and a half minutes. Just past the 14 minute mark Conn had a golden opportunity to open the scoring. Matt Scoffone (Thornton, Pa.) was taken down just outside of the box, and on the ensuing free kick, Horvath Diano took the shot, bending it inside the far post past Joseph to make it 1-0 Camels at 59:17.
"When Matt drew the foul I wasn't exactly sure where it was, so I ran over and saw that it was in a spot where Rye (Jaran) and I have been training recently on different scenarios," said Horvath Diano on his free kick goal. "I was just able to hit it really well, and I think the practice paid off, getting the extra work in, and just a surreal moment, I'm super happy for the team."
Washington and Lee upped the pressure over the final 30 minutes, but Silvester and the Camels' defense held strong. With two and a half minutes left, the Generals had one last chance to even the score. Spencer Furman got the shot away, but again Silvester was up to the task, as Conn held on for the 1-0 victory.
"We talked about how the game was going to be defined by margins or moments," said head coach Reuben Burk. "We capitalized on one set piece, and we bent but didn't break, as Washington and Lee wasn't able to score on their set pieces."
Washington and Lee outshot Conn 12-7 overall, including 7-3 on shots on target, while holding a 9-3 edge on corner kicks.
Silvester was spectacular in goal, finishing with seven saves, including two huge saves, one in each half. Horvath Diano tallied the lone goal of the contest, while Perugini and Gavin Vanden Berg (Lake Forest Park, Wash.) both added one shot on goal.
Joseph finished the evening with two saves in goal for the Generals. Washington and Lee were paced by Furman and Ryan who both recorded two shots on target.
Conn advances to the NCAA National Championship game against NESCAC rival No. 8 Amherst on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. in Las Vegas, Nev. in a rematch of the 2021 National Title game.
