BOSTON, Mass. - The Suffolk University Men's Soccer team topped Emmanuel College, 3-2 on Tuesday evening in a much need Great Norteast Athletic Conference victory for the Rams. The Rams came out on top, scoring the opening three goals of the contest. Despite a late second half run by the Saints, Suffolk was able to hold on for the 3-2 win.
Senior forward Bernhard Lotterer (Lima, PERU) kicked off the scoring for the Rams. Lotterer was assisted by freshman forward Ben Rollins (Lee, N.H.) at 32:29 to put Suffolk up, 1-0. Emmanuel's sophomore keeper Wilhelm Du Bois (Key Biscayne, Fla.) made 6 first-half stops for the Saints and allowed just the one first-period goal for Suffolk. The Rams took the 1-0 edge into halftime.
Suffolk tacked on a second goal just seven minutes into the next frame, when senior midfielder Arman Palian (Belmont, Mass.) was assisted by sophomore Nick Cugine (Ridgefield, Conn.). Palian's goal put Suffolk up 2-0 at 51:35. Cugine then added a score of his own just two minutes later to bring the spread to 3-0. A corner kick situation set up Cugine deep outside the box and he drilled a shot at Du Bois. Du Bois managed to get a hand on the shot before it ricocheted off his back for what proved to be the game-winning Rams' goal.
The three-goal deficit seemed to spark the Saints' offense. Emmanuel netted its first goal of the night at 68:04. Freshman forward Kevin Shirley (Madison, Conn.), who yesterday was named the GNAC Rookie of the Week, was assisted by John Cole (Dover, N.H.) to bring the margin to 3-1.
A sense of urgency kicked in for the Saints as time waned. Senior forward Taylor Lowe (Malibu, Calif.) came off the bench and scored his first collegiate goal with just under five minutes remaining in regulation. Lowe received a pass from Shirley before booting the ball past a diving Jack DeJesus (Swampscott, Mass.). Lowe's marker capped the scoring for both teams and Suffolk pulled out the 3-2 win.
The match was a chippy one throughout with the two teams together totaling 23 fouls and one Emmanuel player receiving a red card. Suffolk doubled up Emmanuel on shots, out-shooting the Saints, 14-7, for the game.
Du Bois, who left the game with an injury after 56 minutes in net, finished with 7 saves for Emmanuel. Sophomore keeper Patrick Froass (Oneida, N.Y.) relieved Du Bois in net for the remainder of the contest. DeJesus went the distance for the Rams, making 3 saves in the win.
The loss for the Saints dropped Emmanuel to 3-11 overall and 1-5 in the GNAC. Suffolk improved to 5-4-2 overall and 2-1-2 in the league. The Rams are back in action on Saturday as they travel to Rivier College to take on the Raiders at 2:30pm.
(story courtesy of Emmanuel College Sports Information)