MEN'S SOCCER DROPS 3-1 DECISION TO MOUNT IDA

(Newton, Massachusetts) - Mount Ida College junior midfielder/forward Steven MacDonald (Medford, MA/Arlington Catholic) scored two goals in a 3-1 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory against visiting Emmanuel College on Columbus Day Monday afternoon in Newton, Massachusetts at Alumni Field. MacDonald recorded both goals very quickly through the first seven minutes of play to give the Mustangs a commanding lead eventually solidifying the win for their fourth league bid of 2012.

The hosts notch their second straight win improving to an overall record of 6-5-1, 4-3-0 in conference play while the visitors fall to 3-8-2 for the year dropping to 2-6-0 in the GNAC standings.

The Mustangs came out charging hard offensively starting in the fourth minute of play off MacDonald's first goal of the contest. A pass from sophomore Peter Sliva (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) to the middle of the net ricocheted off Mount Ida freshman Carlos Martinez (Chelsea, MA/Chelsea) to MacDonald's foot. The junior midfielder fired a shot into the top left corner for the 1-0 early advantage.

MacDonald converted his second goal of the game three minutes later on a breakaway beating Saints net minder sophomore Garrett Charette (West Springfield, MA/West Springfield) for the 2-0 lead. Charette, who added three saves in the contest, would only play 23 minutes and be pulled due to an apparent shoulder injury.

Emmanuel would get on the board in the 11th minute off a direct kick from the right side of the box on a cross from junior midfielder Danny Richman (Medfield, Mass./Medfield). Saints senior forward Kevin Shirley (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand) redirected a shot into the right corner of the net past Mustang goaltender Matt Pils (Monroe, CT/Masuk) cutting the host advantage to 2-1.

Play was stagnant until the 36th minute of play when Mount Ida sophomore Nick Rivas-Vazquez (Hamden, CT/Hamden) recorded his first score of the season on a head ball into the left corner of the net. Mustang sophomore midfielder Ricky Oliveira (New Bedford, MA/New Bedford) served a perfect ball to Vazquez who flicked the hosts' third goal of the contest into the net giving Mount Ida the 3-1 lead heading into the break.

The entire second half was filled with opportunities to put points on the board but neither team could convert in the second stanza handing Mount Ida the 3-1 GNAC victory.

Pils was outstanding minus the blemish in the first half keeping the Saints at arms-length stuffing every Emmanuel attempt in the second period adding eight saves. With Charette pulled early in the game, Saints freshman goalkeeper James Withers (East Taunton, MA/Coyle and Cassidy) saw 65 minutes adding four saves surrendering one goal.

Mount Ida men's soccer will host non-league Elms College Thursday afternoon on Alumni Field with game time slated for 3:30 p.m. while Emmanuel will travel to non-conference Curry College in Milton, Massachusetts Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m.

*Release courtesy of Mount Ida College Sports Information