No. 24 Men's Soccer Stuns No. 10 Southern CT, 1-0, in Second Round of NCAA Tournament
Links: Box Score | Interactive Bracket | Tony Martone Interview | Augusto Silva/Jose Silva Interview
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – A 60th minute goal from junior Augusto Silva (Hudson, Mass.) gave the third-seeded Merrimack College men's soccer team all they needed, as the Warriors upset second-seeded Southern Connecticut, 1-0, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday afternoon. With the win, Merrimack advances to the East Region Final for the first time in program history.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 1 | Southern CT 0
Records: Merrimack (15-4-2, 8-3-2 NE-10) | Southern CT (15-5-0, 10-3-0 NE-10)
Location: Jess Dow Field | New Haven, Conn.
How It Happened
For the second time in the 2014 year, the Warriors traveled to Jess Dow Field to take on nationally ranked Southern Connecticut. In the regular-season meeting, the Warriors lost by a score of 3-0, but were within one goal through 86 minutes of action.
It took 60 minutes into the contest, but Merrimack finally cracked the Owls defense. Freshman Juan Meza (Cali, Colombia) moved the ball into the attacking third on the counterattack, feeding Augusto Silva on the right side. The junior scored his eighth goal of the season and second of the tournament to give Merrimack the one-goal advantage.
Just seconds before that, Jose Silva (Northborough, Mass.) made a spectacular save on a shot from the Owls' Kevin Joslyn. Silva totaled four saves in the game, notching his second straight shutout and ninth clean sheet of the season.
In the first half, each team totaled five shots apiece. The Warriors best chance came from senior Michael Rincon (Medford, Mass.). Midway through the first half, Rincon broke in all alone on the left side, taking a shot with his left foot that was stopped by a sprawling effort from Owls keeper Noah Varonier.
Later in the first half, sophomore Oscar Zepeda Cagide (Jalisco, Mexico) nearly scored in the 40th minute. Fellow second-year player Alexander Alleyne (Swampscott, Mass.) took a shot that Varonier deflected wide, but the rebound came right to Zepeda Cagide near the end line. He took the shot from a tight angle, sending it just over the crossbar.
Inside The Numbers
- Augusto Silva continues to increase on his team lead in goals (8) and points (20). He has set career high in goals, assists and points this season.
- Meza tallies his first career assist, which could not have come at a better time. The all-rookie team selection now has seven points (3g, 1a) on the year
- Freshman Michael Dushman (Bedford, Mass.) gave Merrimack good minutes off the bench. Starting the second half, the rookie totaled two shots, including one on goal.
- Senior Ryan Miller (Holden, Mass.) was booked for a yellow card in the 27th minute, while Southern Connecticut's Tyler Naef picked up his own card in the 51st minute
East Regional
First Round
#5 LIU Post def. #5 NYIT, 2-0
#3 Merrimack def. #6 Philadelphia, 2-0
Saturday, November 15 - Second Round
#5 LIU Post def. #1 Southern NH, 2-2 (LIU Post advaces on peanlty kicks)
Sunday, November 16 - Second Round
#3 Merrimack def. #2 Southern CT, 1-0
East Region Final
#5 LIU Post vs. #3 Merrimack - TBA
Up Next
Merrimack will host the East Regional Final on either Thursday or Friday of this week, taking on fifth-seeded LIU Post after the Pioneers upset top-seeded Southern New Hampshire on Saturday night.
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