SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – A three-goal second-half by the Pride powered Springfield past the Suffolk men's soccer team, 6-2, in non-conference action at Brock-Affleck Field Monday night.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2, Springfield 6
RECORDS: Suffolk (7-7), Springfield (13-1-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Springfield quickly jumped ahead, 1-0, but five minutes later Suffolk had a response thanks to Christian Restrepo. The freshman put Suffolk ahead on his second header of the day less than five minutes later. The Rams remained out in front for the majority of the first frame, but the score leveled once again in the 37th minute and a last second goal, quite literally, gave the Pride a 3-2 edge as the teams headed into the locker room.
The Pride rode the late momentum into the second stanza and used two Luke Alvaro goals within 54 seconds of one another to jump ahead 5-2. A tally with seven minutes remaining sealed the 6-2 final score.
GOALS
- Taylor Gilfoy got the scoring going for the Pride. Just over five minutes into the action, Dexter Tenn drove past his defenders to the left side, before sliding a pass across the goal mouth at the last second to a wide open Gilfoy, who tucked a shot into the back of the net to give the Pride an early 1-0 advantage over the Rams.
- Just 5:36 later Suffolk evened the Suffolk. Christian Restrepo played a short corner to Jordan Casey, who floated a cross to the middle of the box, which was headed into the back of the net by Diego Puig-Corve to knot the score at one apiece.
- The Rams took a 2-1 lead just 4:40 later when a hand ball committed by the Pride results in a direct free kick for Suffolk deep in Springfield terrority. Restrepo stepped up to take the free kick, and laced the ball into the box that was once again headed past Zach Richard by Puig-Corve for his second of the game.
- With 7:57 remaining in the half Springfield leveled the playing field once again. Luke Alvaro played a ball to Keon Haji, who took a shot on cage, which was originally stopped, but the rebound bounced right to Christian Schenider, who tucked a shot past Jon Brodeur to make it 2-2.
- Earning a corner kick with less than one minute remaining in the frame, Danny Murphy played a ball into the box that was cleared by the Rams, but Rafa Jesus blocked the clear and passed to Cam Powell, who found Brad Deckel on the back pipe for a last-second finish to send the Pride into the half with a 3-2 lead.
- Springfield pushed its lead to a pair with 29:24 remaining in the contest when Gilfoy sent a through ball past Suffolk's back line, which was caught up to by Alvaro, who finished his chance to make it 4-2, Pride.
- Just 54 seconds later, the senior finished a cross from Murphy to make it 5-2, and to record his team-leading 18th goal of the season.
- Springfield rounded out its scoring with seven minutes to play in the contest. Haji played a ball into the box that was controlled by Curtis Bolduc, who took a step to his right and finished his chance into the bottom left corner of the net to push the Pride's lead to four late in the game.
KEEPING UP WITH THE KEEPERS
- Brodeur earned the start against a powerful Springfield squad. Through 65 minutes of action, the freshman faced 14 shots, giving up five and making nine saves.
- Steven Lopez Toro saw the first action of his collegiate career in blue and gold. His relief effort featured two saves and one goal allowed in 24 minutes of action.
- Richard secured the victory with a one-save, two goals allowed effort.
- Stewart Frank played 24 minutes in net for the Pride, making one save.
NOTEABLES
- Suffolk is just one of eight opponents to net a goal against Springfield this season and one of three to put in two goals.
POST-GAME PIC
COMING UP
Suffolk travels up to Standish, Maine, for a mid-week match at Saint Joseph's (Maine). The GNAC contest begins at 3:30 p.m.