OFFENSIVE OUTBURST LIFTS EMERSON PAST MEN’S SOCCER, 5-3

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emerson College men's soccer team exploded for five goals, overpowering Emmanuel College, 5-3, Wednesday evening in non-conference action at Roberto Clemente Field.  The Lions entered the match with only five total goals on the year through seven games doubled their season output to improve to 2-4-3 overall while the loss drops the Saints to 2-5-2 on the year.

Emmanuel got on the board early to take a 1-0 lead just 55 seconds into the contest. The Lions committed a hard foul in their own 18-yard box to give the Saints a penalty kick opportunity which junior midfielder Cian O'Sullivan (Agawam, Mass.) buried for his first goal of the year.

The Lions evened the score at 1-1 in the 13^th minute as junior back Ryan Carino (Stoneham, Mass.) played a long ball from the defensive line over the top to junior forward Adam Halliday (Malvern, Pa.). Halliday blasted home his first goal of the season with a well driven strike past senior goalie Garrett Charette (West Springfield, Mass.) to tie the game.

Emerson made it 2-1 at the 19:58 marker when sophomore midfielder Evan Eubanks (St. Petersburg, Fla.) redirected a pass from junior midfielder Alex Van Pelt (Pine Bush, N.Y.) for his second goal of the year.

Minutes later, the Saints were able to again take advantage of another Lions foul in the penalty area to lead to their second PK of the action. Senior forward James Carroll (Guilford, Conn.) was taken down on a breakaway opportunity to earn the whistle and it was O'Sullivan who converted his second penalty kick is as many chances to even the score at 26:22 in the first half.

Junior midfielder Kilian Fischer (Atlanta, Ga.) delivered a huge momentum-shifting goal for the Lions to give the visitors a 3-2 lead just before halftime. Fischer found the ball at his feet in front of the net following a Halliday pass and poked it home with just eight seconds remaining in the half to give Emerson the lead for good.

Battling the wind in the second half, Emmanuel struggled to get many good chances for an equalizer and the Lions continued to push, eventually finding the back of the net when junior Matt Zani (Salem, N.H.) scored his second goal of the year with just under 20 minutes remaining to make it 4-2.

The Lions would add an insurance goal to make it 5-2 in the 78^th minute of play as Carino struck a free kick from 35 yards out into the Emmanuel six-yard box. Thompson was able to get a foot on it and redirect it past Charette to bump the visitor's lead to three with time running out.

Emmanuel junior forward Stefano Sainato (Albany, N.Y.) was able to make it 5-3 with his first goal of the campaign coming with 17 seconds remaining in the action but it was not enough as Emerson held on for the two-goal victory.

Junior goalkeeper Carter Bowers (Gorham, Maine) earned the win making six saves on the night. Charette also made six saves in the loss for the Saints.

Emmanuel returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 4 when they head to Newton, Mass. for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference match up against Mount Ida College at 7:00 PM. Emerson host WPI the same day at 1:00 PM in NEWMAC action.