Men's Soccer Grabs First Win

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's soccer team earned an 8-1 victory over Wheelock College on Saturday afternoon in a rain-shortened New England Collegiate Conference contest at Alumni Field.

Andrew Storton and Christian Tomaj each netted a pair of goals as the Mariners picked up their first win of the season. A total of 10 Mitchell players recorded a point on the day while five scored their first goals of the season.

Mitchell built a 5-0 lead in the first half as Cody Poirier got things going with a score in the fifth minute off a feed from Andris Vital. Jarron Walter followed with a goal in the 18th minute when his shot from the left side slipped between the near post and the goalkeeper, who was shielded by his own defender.

Storton supplied the third and fourth goals of the afternoon, the first in the 33rd minute on a header off a corner and the second in the 36th on an unassisted effort. Zavier Veliz capped the first-half scoring with header off a corner at the far post in the 38th minute.

Tomaj scored twice in the opening 10 minutes of the second half—both by cleaning up rebounds—to bump the lead to 7-0. Jake Garlitz then converted a penalty kick in the 60th minute for Mitchell's final tally.

The goals by Poirier and Storton were their first of the year while Walter, Veliz and Garlitz all recorded their first collegiate markers.  

Wheelock avoided the shutout thanks to a goal by Jose Escobedo in the final minutes. A give-and-go by Griffin Brunette and Sam Murray provided Escobedo with a good look from 15 yards out, and he buried his shot inside the far post for his first career goal.

Wheelock goalie Gary Broad finished with 14 saves in 70 minutes of work. Mitchell starter Seth Strader played a clean first half to record his first career victory in goal, and Kevin Kraley made his collegiate debut in the second half and turned away one shot in 25 minutes. 

Mitchell (1-7-2 overall, 1-1-1 NECC) will next host Salve Regina University on Wednesday, October 12 at 3 p.m. Wheelock (0-11-0 overall, 0-2-0 NECC) returns to action at home against Southern Vermont College on Tuesday, October 11 at 7 p.m.