Men's Soccer Falls in Overtime at No. 2 JWU in GNAC Semifinals

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Johnson & Wales 2 – Emmanuel 1 (F/2OT)

Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (7-5-7)
Johnson & Wales University Wildcats (15-1-3)

Location: Providence, R.I. – Scotts Miracle Gro Athletic Complex

Date: Wednesday, November 2, 2022

THE LEAD – Late in the first overtime period, a Johnson & Wales corner kick found sophomore Brian Miller (Ramsey, N.J.) and his header provided the game-winning tally that sent the No. 2 JWU Wildcats to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship following a 2-1 victory over the No. 6 Emmanuel Saints on Wednesday evening in the GNAC Semifinals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• With time winding down in the first overtime and the match tied 1-1, a corner kick by senior Alexander Pane (Danbury, Conn.) with under 30 seconds was whipped into the box with neither team connecting on the initial chance. The ball bounced just yards from goal, where Miller ran onto the loose ball with a glancing header that slowly crossed into the Saints net, giving JWU a 2-1 lead.
• Emmanuel didn't go down without applying pressure in the second overtime, finding numerous chances to tie the match. In the 105^th minute, a failed clearance by JWU deflected off the head of Saints sophomore RJ Darrell (Wethersfield, Conn.), with that attempt going just over the crossbar.
• The Saints continued to press, hitting cross after cross into the Wildcats penalty area but never finding the final connection. In the 110^th minute, first-year Adrian Pena (Simi Valley, Calif.) would have the last EC opportunity, finding a pocket of space at the top of the box. His attempt was struck well, but straight at JWU goalie, senior Jacob Friedman (Woodland Hills, Calif.), who's final save of the night preserved the 2-1 victory.
• The Wildcats and Saints traded first half goals that kept the game 1-1 for the majority of the match. In the 11^th minute, JWU senior Esteban Osorio (Central Falls, R.I.) cut into the Saints penalty box, found room near the penalty spot, and fired a right-footed shot into the top-right corner, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 edge.
• Saints sophomore Pedro-Andres Vasquez (Frisco, Texas) equalized in the 21^st minute after a Saints free kick was flicked on perfectly by sophomore Joey Soucy (Attleboro, Mass.), right to an onrushing Vasquez, who's left-footed shot found the back of the net to tie the match at 1-1.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Miller's game-winner was his team-leading eighth goal of the season and his second of the 2022 postseason. Pane's corner kick assist gives him four helpers this year.
• Osorio's tally was his second of the year and first of the playoffs. The senior forward had not scored in his last eight matches entering tonight's play.
• Vasquez netted his third of the 2022 campaign and first of the playoffs. Soucy's helper gave him a team-leading seven this season.
• With the assist, EC Soucy set the Emmaunel single-season record (7) and also tied the program single-season points record (27) with teammate Alec Erskine's 2021 campaign mark.
• Friedman earns the victory for JWU after a night seven saves to improve to 14-1-3 in the process.
• Saints graduate student goalie Vincent Conelli (West Hartford, Conn.) made eight saves on the night and concludes his year at 7-5-5.
• Unlike the regular season match where both teams were held to under 10 shots, Wednesday's semifinals finished with Johnson & Wales outshooting Emmanuel 20-16.

UP NEXT

• The Wildcats move to the GNAC Championship match and host the No. 4 seed University of Saint Joseph Blue Jays on Saturday, Nov. 5 with times not yet announced.
• The Saints season ends at 7-5-7 after Wednesday's defeat.