Offensive Outburst Leads Men's Soccer Past Becker on Senior Day

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Fueled by five goals in the first half, the Mitchell College men's soccer team cruised to a 6-1 victory over Becker College on Saturday afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference action at Alumni Field.

The Mariners improved to 4-7-1 overall (3-1-0 NECC) and picked up their third straight victory in league play. Khaliyl Holland paved the way with a pair of goals while David Hernandez, Nicholas Ghirardi, Brayan Mora and Eduardo Tineo also added markers. Devin Ramos tallied the lone goal for the Hawks, who dropped to 3-11-0 overall (0-3-0 NECC).

Mitchell wasted little time getting on the board as Hernandez scored just 2:13 into the contest, burying a shot from the right side of the box into the far netting for his first career goal. Five minutes later, a Becker defender was whistled for a handball in the box, and Ghirardi converted the ensuing penalty kick for his second goal of the season.

Mora scored his second goal of the year in the 26th minute off a feed from Wadlet Jean-Baptiste to give the Mariners a 3-0 lead. Holland supplied the final two scores of the half, heading home a cross from Christian Urena in the 27th minute before finishing off a pretty pass from Santiago Manrique in the 32nd. The goals were his first and second of the season.

Becker cut into the deficit early in the second half as Jakob Franklin delivered a pass from the right end line that Ramos buried for his third goal of the season. The final tally of the day came in the 65th minute as Jose Sierra found Tineo at the top of the box for a blast that deflected off a defender and slipped under the crossbar.

Seth Strader and Jose Romero split time in goal for the Mariners. Strader finished with three saves while Romero made five, including a diving stop in the 62nd minute in which he punched a shot over the crossbar. Becker goalkeeper Sam Majewski faced 34 shot and recorded 11 saves.

Prior to the game the Mariners honored seven seniors--Holland, Mora, Zavier Veliz, Andrew Storton, Jose Roman III, Jarron Walter and Yianni Longinidis--in a special ceremony. 

Mitchell will next play at Babson College on Wednesday, October 18 at 4 p.m. Becker returns to action at Lesley University on Tuesday, October 17 at 8 p.m.