Men's Soccer Tops Lyndon State for Season's First Win

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's soccer team picked up its first win of the season on Saturday afternoon by a 2-0 final over Lyndon State College at Alumni Field.

Sophomore Robert Pullan scored the game-winning goal in the opening half while freshman Andris Vital tacked on a late insurance marker to lead the Mitchell attack. Goalkeepers Romer Ochoa and Anthony Drake combined to make five saves in the shutout.

The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute when Andrew Nigro connected with Cody Poirier in the defensive midfield. Poirier then lofted a ball over the back line to a streaking Pullan on the right sideline, and the newcomer dribbled into the box against the keeper before depositing his first goal of the season inside the far post. 

The Hornets had a chance to tie the score with eight minutes to go in the half, as a swarm in front of the net yielded an attempt to the right corner of the goal. Mitchell defender Graham Cavanaugh slid along the goal line to clear away the potential tying score, and the Mariners went into the halftime break with the 1-0 lead.

The one-goal margin stood until the final minute of the contest, when Enajee Caple played a ball to Vital inside the box. Vital spun around his defender and beat the keeper for his first collegiate goal with just 12 seconds remaining in the game.

Ochoa finished with two saves while Drake made three and recorded his second career win. Lyndon State goalkeeper Matt LaClair finished the day with six stops against 13 shots. 

Mitchell (1-1-0 overall) will next play at Mount Ida College on Wednesday, September 9 at 7 p.m. Lyndon State (0-2-0 overall) returns to action at home against Curry College on Sunday, September 6 at 3:30 p.m.