EAST BOSTON – Less than one minute into the extra session, Emerson's Dan Knight scored his second goal of the contest to lift the Lions past the Suffolk men's soccer team in Monday night at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park.
Suffolk (0-10-1) overcame a 2-0 half-time deficit thanks to scores from Fernardo Tome and Jordan Casey to knot the game at 2-2, but it would not be enough as Emerson (4-7) sealed its victorious fate quickly in overtime.
Emerson controlled the majority of the opening 15 minutes and took advantage as the clock struck 15:19. Knight made dribbled through defenders and fired from the left side. The Lions' leading goal scorer tacked his sixth tally of the year when as the senior curled his shot into the netting on the top right corner.
The Lions made it a 2-0 cushion at the 32nd minute mark. Derek Thomson led Duncan Bochicchio ahead to the 15-yard line. Nicholas Chamma was pulled out from in between the pipes. The Suffolk senior made dove to lock-up the ball, but slipped and missed. Bochicchio took advantage and snuck past Chamma and the Rams defensive line to put his fourth goal of the season away.
Suffolk had its best opportunity on a header by Mike Luntadila, but the attempt bounced right into Lucas Fischer's gloves to send the Rams into the break down by two.
The shots were even through the first 45 minutes, but it was the Lions who held the edge in shots on goal, 6-2, and corners, 3-2.
After a flurry of second-half fouls turned momentum in favor of the hosts. Tome got the scoring frenzy going for Suffolk as the sophomore midfielder kept Suffolk's season penalty kick percentage perfect. Tome's first goal of the season came in the form of a good PK and put the Rams within one, with just over 31 minutes to play in regulation.
Emerson had a chance to stretch its edge back to two goals around the 29th minute. Sami Beria's kick sky rocketed off his cleat and was just about to sneak in right underneath the post, but Chamma punched it away to keep the Rams within one.
Five minutes later the playing field was leveled as Casey struck for the first time in his collegiate career. The freshman midfielder slid ahead of the pack and fired the rock past Fisher to tie the game at 2-all with exactly 24 minutes remaining.
With just under seven minutes on the clock it looked like Emerson was about to take the lead. A header attempt by a Lion bounced high and Bochicchio's head and into the netting. As Emerson celebrated the whistle sung because the visitors were off sides and the score held at 2-2.
The Lions hammered Chamma with four attempts over the remaining minutes, but the senior was able to turn every shot away to send the Rams into overtime for the second time in 2015.
Knight's game winner came just 59 seconds into the overtime. He's kick lifted the ball up-and-over Chamma's jumping reach to secure the Lions win.
Suffolk will return to the East Boston pitch Saturday afternoon for a 4 p.m. date with Saint Joseph's of Maine.