MEN’S SOCCER RALLIES FOR 2-1 WIN OVER MOUNT IDA IN GNAC OPENER

BOSTON, Mass. – Trailing 1-0 entering the second half of play, the Emmanuel College men's soccer team used two goals to complete the come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Mount Ida College Saturday afternoon at Roberto Clemente Field in both teams Great Northeast Athletic Conference opener. The Saints improve to 2-5 overall and 1-0 in the GNAC while the loss drops the Mustangs to 1-3-1 and 0-1 in GNAC action.

In the opening stanza, both teams struggled to get good offensive looks and it took a defensive miscue to lead to the game's first goal. In the 26^th minute of play, the Saints defensive unit passed a ball back to junior goalkeeper Garrett Charette (West Springfield, Mass.) to rebuild and counter but the Mustangs had other ideas as sophomore forward Carlos Martinez (Chelsea, Mass.) was able to disrupt the keeper's possession. Charette tried to clear the ball but Martinez was able to redirect the clear towards the Saints goal for an easy tap in to make it a 1-0 lead in favor of the visitors.

Emmanuel outshot the Mustangs, 8-4 in the opening stanza but trailed by a goal heading into the halftime intermission.

Just 2:19 into the second half Mount Ida had a chance to add to its lead as the Saints were called for a hard foul in their own 18-yard box resulting in a penalty kick. Fortunately for the hosts the Mustangs attempt sailed over the crossbar to keep the score at 1-0.

With the miss, the momentum shifted to the hosts as Emmanuel began an offensive assault that began on the next possession as sophomore midfielder David Field (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) tied the score at 1-1 with his second goal of the season. Field buried a shot from 25 yards out to even things up at the 48:14 marker.

Emmanuel continued to keep the pressure on and would strike again with the eventual game-winner in the 56^th minute of play. Field was able to find sophomore forward Stefano Sainato (Albany, N.Y.) with a well placed feed at the top of the box. Sainato took two touches towards the goal before burying his second goal of the year to give EC the 2-1 cushion.

The Mustangs had two great chances late in the action to net the equalizer but were unable to find the back of the net on either play. In the 75^th minute, junior forward Michael Templeton (Charlestown, N.H.) appeared to have an open net but an Emmanuel defender went into a defensive slide to stop the shot on the goal line. Minutes later, freshman Tyler Grothusen (Ramsey, N.J.) had a shot that sailed just wide of the neat post and the Saints were able to hang on for the 2-1 conference victory.

Sophomore keeper James Withers (East Taunton, Mass.) relieved Charette at the half and earned the win for Emmanuel making 1 save while Charette made two in his action. Junior Mat Pils (Monroe, Conn.) played well in defeat making eight stops for the Mustangs.

The win for the Saints marks the first victory over Mount Ida since a 2-1 victory on Sept. 22, 2007.

Emmanuel is off for the week and resumes play next Saturday (9/21) when they host Johnson & Wales University at 12:00 PM in a GNAC tilt while the Mustangs host Newbury College on Wednesday (9/18) at 7:00 PM.