Men’s Soccer Scores First, Plays into Overtime Friday Evening at Rhode Island

Links: Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. – The Merrimack College men's soccer team saw freshman Marc Torrellas score on a free kick from 20 yards out in the first half of Friday night's non-conference tilt at the University of Rhode Island, moving the Warriors into a position to win their third straight game to start their inaugural Division I season. The host Rams rallied, however, scoring an equalizer in the 75^th minute before netting the game-winner with less than seven minutes to play in the second overtime.

Merrimack made a bid to upset the Atlantic-10 representatives; the Warriors entered the night with victories against the Colonial's Northeastern and Patriot League's Boston University to start the year. The defeat dropped Merrimack to 2-1 in 2019 while URI improved to 2-2-1

The Basics
Score (2OT): Rhode Island 2, Merrimack 1
Records: Merrimack (2-1) | Rhode Island (2-2-1)
Location: URI Soccer Complex | Kingston, R.I.

The Summary

• Graduate student goalkeeper Lucas Rezende registered a third-minute save on an early Rams chance. Four minutes later, Torrellas stepped into a free kick for the Warriors and fired the attempt just under the cross bar to put the Warriors ahead, 1-0
• Rezende made two more saves in the first half, while Merrimack benefitted from a Rhode Island attempt that banged off the cross bar. The Warriors took a 1-0 edge to halftime
• Merrimack's keeper made two more saves within a minute of each other in the 57^th and 58^th minute to keep the cleansheet up to that point. Sophomore Tola Showunmi and junior Drew Lovely each put a shot on frame in the 64^th and 65^th minute, respectively, but the Rams keeper saved each attempt
• Rhode Island broke through in the 75^th minute, touching a header past Rezende to tie the game
• The first overtime saw each team put one shot on goal, but each attempt was saved. Rhode Island scored the game-winner in the 104^th minute, one-timing a shot that beat Rezende and gave the hosts the win

Stats & Figures

• Rezende made a season-best six saves on the night, and now owns a goals-against average of 0.95 and a save percentage of .813 through nearly 300 minutes of action
• Torrellas moved into the team lead in goals (2) and points (4) with the free-kick marker
• Rhode Island outshot the Warriors, 18-10, and added a four-shot advantage in shots on goal (8-4)
• The Rams attempted 12 corners compared to Merrimack's three
• Junior Filippo Begliardi Ghidini attempted five of the team's 10 shots

Up Next
Merrimack hosts UMass Lowell on Tuesday at Martone-Mejail Field in the Warriors' home opener. Kickoff on campus is set for 4 p.m.