Posted: Oct 15, 2012
Sophomore Devin L'Heureux (Litchfield, N.H.) assisted on the opening score of the game before eventually notching the game-winning goal in overtime, lifting the Salve Regina University men's soccer team to a 3-2 victory over Suffolk University in non-conference action at Reynolds Field on Monday evening. The victory improves the Seahawks to 11-4-1 overall, while the Rams slip to 6-8-1 on the season.
L'Heureux led all players with three points, collecting both a goal and an assist, while classmateIssa Demirgioglu (Smithfield, R.I.) set up the game-winning goal as on of his two helpers in the match. Freshman Andrew Chenard (Kingston, Mass.) and senior Patrick Vierengel (Armonk, N.Y.) each added markers for the Seahawks, while senior Jacob Brigandi (Vernon, Conn.) chipped-in with an assist. Freshman Daniel Stern (Kings Park, N.Y.) earned the win in net, making a pair of saves to improve to 9-4-0 in his rookie campaign.
The Rams received goals from junior Jeff Williams (Geneva, Ill.) and sophomore Daour Diagne (Dakar, Senegal), while senior Ben Williams (Lee, N.H.) dished-out Suffolk's lone assist. Freshman goalie Nicholas Chamma (Rio de Janero, Brazil) took the loss in net despite making a game-high six saves on the evening.
The Seahawks struck first in the eighth minute of play when L'Heureux sent Chenard ahead of the Suffolk defense, allowing the freshman to find the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season.
Salve Regina managed to extend its lead with a pretty goal in the 42nd minute. Brigandi gathered the ball roughly 10 yards over half and centered a pass to Demrigioglu who slipped a one-touch feed through the Suffolk defense to Vierengel who finished with a blast from the top of the box to give the Seahawks a 2-0 edge heading into the break.
The Rams managed to regroup at halftime and climbed right back in the game when Diagne connected on a bouncing ball in the box for an unassisted tally just 47 seconds into the second period, cutting the Salve Regina lead in half, 2-1.
In the 58th minute, the Rams took advantage of a free kick in the Seahawks' zone after a Salve Regina foul. Rollins took the kick and sent a twisting ball toward the far post which was deflectedinto the net by Williams for the game-tying score, 2-2.
After 90 minutes of play in regulation, the score remained knotted at two-all, sending the two teams into overtime.
The Seahawks nearly scored the deciding goal just over a minute into overtime when freshmanAlexander Hoglund (Portland, Maine) ripped a shot on goal which Chamma saved with aterrific stop in net for Suffolk. The rebound came right to Salve Regina freshman Rainer Randell (Providence, R.I.) who headed a shot just below the crossbar. However, Chamma was able to regroup from stopping the first shot to leap and push Rainer's header up and over the cross bar, keeping the Rams alive.
Undetered, the Seahawks notched the game-winner just under a minute and a half later when Demirgioglu delivered a beautiful through ball to L'Heureux who beat Chamma to the far left post, giving Salve Regina the 3-2 overtime victory.
The Rams won't return to action until next Wednesday when they host Lasell at 8:30 p.m., while the Seahawks take to the field again on Saturday, traveling to face Endicott in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) match starting at noon.
(Story courtesy of Salve Regina sports information)