Blazers' Overtime Goal Stuns Mountaineers
Photo Courtesy: Matt Haggerty
CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Southern
Vermont College men's soccer team lost a close battle to Elms
College when Chris Silva headed home the game-winning goal off
a cross from Josh Chagnon just two minutes into the overtime period
to help lift the Blazers to a thrilling, hard-fought 3-2
victory Saturday afternoon's New England Collegiate Conference
(NECC) game at Leary Field.
With the win, Elms snaps a four-game losing slide to improve to
4-12 on the season, 2-4 in league play. Southern Vermont falls to
10-5-1 overall, 3-2-1 in NECC action.
After playing to a scoreless second half, the sides entered the
extra period in a 2-2 deadlock. At the 91:21 mark, Chagnon played a
ball across the field just in front of the left post that Silva
headed past Southern Vermont goalkeeper Aaron Eschler to give the
Blazers the 3-2 win.
Silva led Elms' offensive charge, firing four of the teams 14
shots, as the Blazers outshot the Mountaineers 14-11 on the
day.
Southern Vermont opened the scoring in the contest as Nick Haggerty
drilled his 13th goal of the season off a pass from Adrien Alexis
just five minutes into the game to give the Mountaineers a 1-0
edge.
Alexis added to that lead at the 16:51 mark when he connected for
his 13th goal of the season, giving Southern Vermont a 2-0
cushion.
Elms answered right back when junior midfielder Courtney Johnson
found Silva with a cross that Silva netted for his second goal of
the season at the 19:44 mark. The score was just a preview of what
was to come for Silva.
The Blazers evened the score at 2-2 23 minutes into the first half
when freshman forward Tavish Leland blasted his team-leading fourth
goal of the season.
From there, the sides played scoreless soccer until Silva provided
his goal early in the extra period.
Alexis accounted for five of the Mountaineers' 11 shots to lead the
offensive effort, while Eschler finished with four saves.
Elms senior goalkeeper Nick Pellegrini stopped four shots in the
winning effort.
The Mountaineers return to action on Tuesday, Oct. 27 when
they host Skidmore College for a non-conference contest at
4:00 p.m. on Everett Field.
