Buraczynski's Goal Lifts Men's Soccer Past Stonehill, 1-0
Links: Box Score
EASTON, Mass. – After a lone goal in the 29th minute of play from junior Michael Buraczynski (Littleton, Mass.), the Merrimack College men's soccer team won its second straight with a win on the road against Stonehill College, 1-0, Wednesday afternoon at Skyhawk Field.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 1 | Stonehill 0
Records: Merrimack (9-3, 7-2) | Stonehill (4-8, 3-6)
Location: Skyhawk Field | Easton, Mass.
How It Happened
Early in the first half, Merrimack took three quick shots against Stonehill goalkeeper Adam Colella, but were unsuccessful. In the 29th minute of play, Buraczynski headed the ball home for his third goal of the season. Buraczynski's goal came off a Merrimack corner kick from sophomore Augusto Silva (Hudson, Mass.) to give Merrimack an early, 1-0, lead over Stonehill.
Going into halftime, Merrimack held a 6-1 advantage in shots, while scoring off the only corner kick in the first half.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Merrimack freshman Joseph Briers (Lincolnshire, England) had back-to-back opportunities to extend the lead to two but just could not find the back of the net.
Stonehill's final chance to tie the game at 1-all came in the 83rd minute of play when Ben Zandonella's shot was high above the net. The Warriors owned a10-5 advantage in shot attempts over the course of the game while both sides took four shot attempts in the second.
A Closer Look
- Senior keeper Jose Silva (Northborough, Mass.) made one save to give his ninth victory of the year and his fifth shutout of the season.
- Sophomore Douglas Searl (Westford, Mass.) posted a team-high three shot attempts and one shot on goal.
- Merrimack tallied the only two corner kicks of the game against the Skyhawks.
- Stonehill posted 17 fouls, while Merrimack tallied 11 on the afternoon.
- Skyhawk goalkeeper Adam Colella registered three saves.
What They Said
"That was a big win for us to get, coming off last Saturday's victory against Le Moyne," said head coach Tony Martone. "There is still plenty of season left and we still have some things to work out but we are heading in the right direction."
Up Next
The men's soccer team returns to action on Saturday, October 19, when it travels south to West Haven, Conn., to take on the New Haven. First kick is set for 7 p.m.
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