Men's Soccer Edges Elms Late

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Mitchell College men's soccer team got the final word in a back-and-forth battle against Elms College at Leary Field on Tuesday, scoring an 80th-minute goal to earn a 4-3 New England Collegiate Conference win over the Blazers.

Mitchell (6-7-0 overall, 4-2-0 NECC) opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Jack Cullen struck after collecting a loose ball inside the box. The goal was the first of his collegiate career.

Elms (4-10-1 overall, 3-2-1 NECC) evened the score in the 26th minute when Tyler Hesselton found Michael Campos at the top of the box. Campos took two touches before evening the score at 1-1.

Ten minutes later, Quinn Outerbridge put the Mariners ahead 2-1 when he settled a ball off the fingertips of Elms goalkeeper A.J. Oliveira and rifled it home. The goal was his team-leading fifth of the season, and the Mariners took the one-goal advantage into the halftime intermission.

Mitchell built its largest advantage of the afternoon early in the second half. David Hernandez found an open Bryan Ramos in the box, and Ramos delivered his second goal of the season to put the Mariners ahead 3-1 in the 51st minute.

Mitchell's two-goal advantage was short-lived, however. Just 2:10 later, Pedro Duarte fired a close-range shot that was saved, but not secured, by goalkeeper Seth Strader. Duarte corralled the rebound and did not miss on his second attempt, beating Strader to the near side to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Elms evened the score in the 76th minute when Mitchell was whistled for a handball in the box. Anthony Romei converted the ensuing penalty kick to knot the score at 3-3.

It took just four minutes for the Mariners to secure the game winner as Christian Urena got on the end of a through ball from Outerbridge and beat Oliveira for the decisive goal. The tally was the first of the season for Urena and the second game-winning goal of his career.

Elms finished the contest with a 14-11 advantage in shots and a 6-4 edge in corner kicks. Each team finished with seven shots on goal. Strader came up with four saves for the Mariners while Oliveira made three for Elms.

Mitchell will next host WPI in non-conference action on Sunday, October 21 at noon.