#19 Men's Soccer Erases Early Deficit, Blows by Caldwell in 2016 Opener, 5-1

9/1/2016 12:00:00 AM

Links: Box Score | Alexander Alleyne Interview | Game Highlights 

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The No. 19 Merrimack College men's soccer team conceded an early goal on Thursday evening in its season opener against visiting Caldwell University, but the Warriors responded with five unanswered goals – two of which came within 40 seconds of each other – in their 5-1 victory to kickoff the 2016 season.

The Basics
Score: Merrimack 5, Caldwell 1
Records: #19 Merrimack (1-0) | Caldwell (0-1)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.

What They Said
Head coach Tony Martone: "Happy to see the boys come out and overcome some adversity. After allowing the first goal, we settled into our gameplan and I was happy with how we attacked offensively. It was a good first game, but we need to regroup before facing a talented Post team on Saturday."

How It Happened

• 4' – Caldwell opened the scoring early on, deflecting a long ball past junior goalkeeper Cody Russell (Oceanside, Calif.) to take a 1-0 advantage
• 18' – As a corner kick was played into the box from Mattia Lanzi (Viterbo, Italy) the referee blew the play dead to call a foul in the box. Senior captain Oscar Zepeda Cagide (Jalisco, Mexico) stepped to the dot to convert the penalty kick to tie the game at one-all
• 33' – On this occasion, the Warriors converted on a set piece. Lanzi delivered a ball into the box towards Jaime Cortes Torres (Seville, Spain), who headed the ball into the upper ninety
• 42' – Senior Alexander Alleyne (Swampscott, Mass.) joined the fray, taking advantage of a ball played from the back by Joseph Briers (Nottingham, England). Alleyne received the pass on the left side and snuck a shot by the Cougars to keeper to make it 3-1
• 43' – Shortly after the restart, freshman Sebastian Toro (East Boston, Mass.) broke in all alone on goal, took a touch to avoid the keeper and slid a shot into the back of the net
• 59' – Redshirt-junior Josue Ruiz Maya (Madero, Mexico) made a triumphant return to the lineup following an injury last season, heading in his first career goal on a cross from Lars Sund (Stavanger, Norway) on a free kick

Inside The Numbers

• Caldwell nearly had a goal in the opening minute, as a header got by Russell, who had come off his line. Starting his first career game at left back, senior Connor O'Brien (Sandwich, Mass.) tracked back to head the ball off the line, preventing a goal
• The Warriors' five goals tied their season high from last season, and it marked the most at home since the 2010 campaign, nearly six years ago
• Playing in his 26^th career game and 19^th career start, Ruiz Maya netted his first career goal on his second-half header.
• Shots: MC – 20 // CALD – 8  
• SOG: MC – 10 // CALD – 3

Up Next
The Warriors conclude play in the Merrimack Kickoff Classic on Saturday afternoon when the Warriors battle Post University at 3 p.m. from Martone-Mejail Field. Both the Warriors and the Eagles played in the NCAA Tournament last season.

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