SUFFOLK UPENDS SAINTS ON SENIOR DAY

BOSTON, Mass. - Second half goals by two Suffolk freshmen lifted the Rams Men's Soccer team to a stunning 2-1 road victory over Emmanuel College at Clemente Field on Saturday afternoon. The Rams improved 2-14-1 overall with the win and 2-6-1 in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC). Emmanuel falls to 5-10-1 and 4-4-1 in the GNAC, and will either travel to Norwich as the #5 seed or St. Joseph's (ME) as the #6 seed, depending on the result of Albertus Magnus vs. Johnson & Wales tonight.

On a day where Emmanuel honored seven seniors prior to the opening kick, it was senior captain David Field (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) who scored the game's opening goal. Junior Colin O'Donnell made a tremendous indiviudal effort to work the ball to Field and the senior buried his seventh goal of the season to give the Saints a 1-0 lead.

Emmanuel carried the lead into the halftime break and looked to double it early in the second half, but the hosts were whistled for two offsides infractions on back-to-back plays. 

Suffolk earned a corner kick in the 66th minute and made sure to make the most of the opportunity. Freshman Jordan Casey stepped up to the corner and drove a ball into the box where it was settled by fellow frosh Hamada Hazzoum. Hazzoum took one touch and put a well-placed shot into the back of net for the first goal of his collegiate career. The Suffolk bench erupted as the Rams evened the score and helped their narrow hopes of a postseason bid.

Senior captain Stefano Sainato (Albany, N.Y.) made his best attempt to put his team back in front, as he attempted four shots in a 12-minute span following the Suffolk goal. Two of those shots were stopped by Rams keeper Nicholas Chamma and two sailed wide as the senior was unable to find the right touch.

Casey and Hazzoum had no intention of playing more than the required 90 minutes, as the two would combine for the eventual game-winner in the 83rd minute. Casey's team-leading third goal of the season put the Rams up 2-1, which was a lead that they would not relinquish.

Chamma made three saves en route to his first victory of the season, while Emmanuel goalkeeper James Withers (East Taunton, Mass.) made five saves, but fell to 5-8-1.

Suffolk earned seven corner kicks in the match to Emmanuel's three, including a 4-0 edge in the second half. The teams combined for 28 fouls, as the Saints committed 16 infractions and the Rams countered with 12 of their own. 

Eugenio Ottino, Luca Cepollina, and Juan Camilo Ucros were all added to the official's book for yellow cards, joining Withers and Sam Vreeland from the Saints.

Emmanuel honored seniors Field, Sainato, Withers, Vreeland, Stefano Gambino, Cian O'Sullivan, and Kurt Pruner, all of whom started the match and saw significant minutes. The players were all escorted to the field by parents/family members.

Next up for the Saints is the GNAC Quarterfinals on Sunday, November 1. The location and time of the game will be determined following the conclusion of tonight's contest at Johnson & Wales. For further postseason information, please refer to GoECSaints.com or thegnac.com.