MSoccer Tops Becker 1-0 on Senior Day

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's soccer team battled to a 1-0 victory over Becker College on Saturday afternoon in a New England Collegiate Conference match-up at Alumni Field.

Senior Zachary Simmons scored the game's only goal in the 62nd minute to send the Mariners (6-9-0 overall, 4-1-0 NECC) to victory. The win kept the Mariners tied for first place in the NECC standings and also clinched a berth in the upcoming NECC Championship.

The best scoring opportunity of the first half came in the 20th minute when Mitchell junior Jason Kirby had a one-on-one look against Becker goalkeeper Tim MacDonald on a breakaway. Kirby put the shot on goal, but a diving save by MacDonald kept the game scoreless.

Later on in the stanza, junior Frank Williams plunked a shot off the crossbar on a free kick chance. Becker also put two shots on goal in the frame, though neither got by junior goalkeeper Ramazan Sinani.

In the second half, Simmons broke the stalemate with the help of a through ball into the box from freshman Andrew Nigro. Simmons finished off the pass with a shot into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

The Mariners held on for the final 28 minutes and prevented the Hawks from equalizing. In a tense final five minutes, Sinani kept the shutout intact by punching away a dangerous ball in front of the goal amongst a swarm of Becker attackers.

Sinani finished with four saves against 10 shots to record his third shutout of the season. MacDonald ended the match with five saves against 19 shots.

The goal by Simmons was fitting, as he was one of two seniors honored prior to the match in a special senior day celebration. Also honored at the ceremony was Michael Genovese, a four-year letterwinner who got a starting nod against the Hawks.

Mitchell will next host Lesley University on Tuesday, October 22 at 3:30 p.m.