Men's Soccer Rallies Back to Top Becker

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's soccer team overcame a second-half deficit to post a 3-1 victory over Becker College in New England Collegiate Conference action on Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Field.

The Mariners trailed 1-0 at intermission but answered with three tallies in the second half, all while playing a man down due to a red card in the 49th minute. Julian Cortez netted the go-ahead goal with eight minutes remaining to propel Mitchell (3-9-1 overall, 2-2-0 NECC) to its second straight league win.

Becker jumped out to an early lead as Chris Antonelli scored his first goal of the season just 4:30 into the contest. The Hawks played a corner kick into the box that the Mariners failed to clear, and Antonelli teed up the loose ball from just inside the 18 and delivered a strike into the top-left corner of the goal.

In the second half, Mitchell's chances to equalize took a hit due to the red card. However, the Mariners rallied to tie the game in the 62nd minute when David Hernandez found Nolan Clack for his first career goal. Hernandez dribbled into the box and slipped a pass through a pair of defenders to the left side. Clack took the pass in stride and buried a left-footed shot from six yards out that tied the game at 1-1.

Clack nearly put Mitchell in front in the 68th minute with another quality chance. This time Becker keeper Sam Majewski made a diving stop to keep the match knotted at 1-1.

Mitchell's deep bench proved key in the later stages of the contest. Despite playing a man short, the Mariners were able to rotate in fresh legs, and eventually the strategy paid dividends. Cortez scored in the 83rd minute on an individual effort, turning at the top of the 18 and tucking a left-footed shot into the side netting. The goal was his team-leading third of the season.

Marcelo Diaz added an insurance marker just over a minute later to pad the lead to 3-1. Diego Di Carlantonio spun around his defender and sent a cross from the left end line that found Diaz for a header at the far post. The goal was also the first of Diaz's collegiate career.

Mitchell held an 18-13 advantage in total shots. Goalkeeper Seth Strader finished with four saves for the Mariners while Majewski recorded five.

Mitchell will next host Lesley University on Saturday, October 26 at 11 a.m. Becker (1-15-1 overall, 0-5-0 NECC) returns to action at home against Elms College on Sunday, October 27 at noon.