Men's Soccer Scores Late to Edge ENC

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's soccer team used a pair of second-half scores to come away with a 2-1 victory over Eastern Nazarene College on Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Field.

Senior Frank Williams netted the game-winning goal in the 85th minute off a free kick from 25 yards out. The Mariners initially went up 1-0 on a penalty kick by classmate Taylor Surette in the 49th minute, but the Lions responded with a goal by Andrew Nelson in the 59th to tie the game.

Despite some lapses in the second half, Mitchell's defense was solid in the final five minutes. Eastern Nazarene attempted only one shot during the stretch and had it blocked before ever getting on net.

Each team had opportunities in the first half but couldn't cash in. The Lions got a good look in the opening minutes of the contest when Scott Hansen beat the Mitchell keeper to a ball out wide, but his ensuing shot at the open goal came from a tough angle and went wide of the far post. Williams also had a pair of chances for the Mariners in the first 10 minutes of the game, but diving stops by ENC goalie Jake Johnson kept the game scoreless. 

Mitchell finally got on the scoreboard early in the second half when senior Jordan Derosier was taken down from behind in the box and the Mariners were awarded a penalty kick. Surette stepped up and buried the kick into the right corner for his second marker of the season.

The goal woke up the ENC offense, and nearly 10 minutes later the Lions tied the game on a score by Nelson. Jacob Mason found Nelson down the left wing with a lofted pass over the Mitchell back line, and Nelson finished off his team-leading sixth goal of the season with a shot to the lower left corner.

The match seemed destined for extra time—the Mariners couldn't connect on a ball on the ENC goal line in the 79th minute while the Lions had a go-ahead attempt hit off the crossbar in the 80th—until a whistle and foul yielded a free kick for Mitchell from directly in front of the goal. Williams calmly lined up his shot, fired over a wall of five defenders and sniped the lower-left corner for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.

Johnson finished with seven saves for the Lions while Mitchell senior Ramazan Sinani made five stops in goal.

Mitchell (5-6-1 overall) will next play at Southern Vermont College on Saturday, October 11 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Nazarene (5-7-0 overall) returns to action at home against Curry College on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.