Cortes Torres' Last-Second Strike Lifts Men's Soccer to 2-1 Victory over Franklin Pierce
Links: Highlights | Box Score | Cortes Torres/Searl Interview | Martone Interview
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Junior forward Jaime Cortes Torres (Seville, Spain) headed in a cross from senior captain Douglas Searl (Westford, Mass.) with just 8.1 seconds remaining in the second half as the Merrimack College men's soccer team fought back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat the visiting Franklin Pierce Ravens, 2-1, on Saturday night as part of Homecoming Weekend at Merrimack.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 2, Franklin Pierce 1
Records: Merrimack (9-2-2, 5-2-2) | Franklin Pierce (4-7-2, 2-5-2 NE-10)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.
How It Happened
The Navy and Gold played their best soccer of the night during the latter parts of the second stanza, which ended up resulting in the late winner.
The Warriors recorded four shots and attempted two corner kicks over the final 14 minutes as the hosts dominated possession. Cortes Torres nearly put Merrimack up in the 87th minute, but a soft strike with his right foot was cleared off the line by defender Charlie Madden.
The junior got one last crack, and he did not miss the opportunity. Junior midfielder Connor O'Brien (Sandwich, Mass.) won the ball in the midfield and played it to Searl. The right back played a right-footed cross from 30 yards out into the box, where Cortes Torres flicked the ball on net with his head, sending it past the Franklin Pierce keeper and into the goal.
The tally helped erase a one-goal lead for Franklin Pierce, as Marius Preber scored his seventh goal of the season just 53 seconds into the second half for the first goal of the game.
Merrimack answered shortly thereafter, as junior Alexander Alleyne (Swampscott, Mass.) used an impressive individual effort to avoid one defender before ripping a right-footed shot into the top part of the netting.
The Warriors outshot the Ravens by nine, 13-4, in the second half while winning four corner kicks. Between Madden and Jordan LeGuyader, the Franklin Pierce goalkeeper, the Ravens totaled seven saves on the night.
The first half included two shots for the Navy and Gold in the first five minutes, as Oscar Zepeda Cagide (Jalisco, Mexico) and Alleyne sent attempts high.
In the 20th minute, the Warriors attempted two dangerous shots within a span of 33 seconds. Graduate student Patrick Jennings (Llandudno, Wales) headed a shot at the far post off a corner kick that was blocked in front before Juan Meza (Cali, Colombia) broke in down the right shot but sent a right-footed strike over the bar.
Sophomore goalkeeper Lucas Rezende (Weymouth, Mass.) made his lone first-half save in the 36th minute. With less than one minute to play in the opening stanza, the Ravens missed out on their best chance as Lorris Cortijo broke in all alone on Rezende, but sent his strike wide of the far post.
After a four-game winless streak, Merrimack now has two straight wins and 17 points thanks to a 5-2-2 mark in Northeast-10 Conference play. The Warriors sit in fourth place in the conference, resting three points out of second in the league.
Inside The Numbers
- Playing in his 31st game with the Warriors, Cortes Torres scored his sixth career goal and first of the game-winning variety. He now has seven points on the season (3g, 1a), good for third on the Warriors
- Searl recorded his first assist of the season and first helper since he was a sophomore on the Navy and Gold. Suiting up for the 30th time in his three-year career, O'Brien notched his first career assist on the game-winner
- Alleyne now has goal in back-to-back years against Franklin Pierce. The junior forward now has nine career tallies and at least two in every year of his career
- Rezende finished with the one first-half save to collect his ninth win of the season. The Ravens mustered six shots, four of which came in the second half. The Warriors back line held the visitors without a shot over the final 28 minutes of action
Up Next
The Navy and Gold travel to Stonehill on Wednesday afternoon for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. The Warriors defeated the Skyhawks last season in the NE-10 Quarterfinals.
--
For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.
