Men’s Soccer Storms Back, Finishes with Draw Against Fisher

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's soccer team battled back from a two-goal second half deficit to play to a 2-2 draw in their physical season opening game against Fisher College at home on Friday evening.

Juniors Dylan Lucey (Lebanon, Conn.) and Noslin Antunez (Westbrook, Conn.) both notched goals for the Mariners, who found themselves trailing by two as the game entered the 57th minute. Following a foul committed against Mitchell's Snadooby Robert (New London, Conn.), the Mariners capitalized on the free kick as Nick Ghirardi (East Lyme, Conn.) booted the ball down into the penalty box. There to receive it was sophomore Flavio Alvarado (New London, Conn.), who gained possession in the near corner before crossing it to a charging Lucey, who punched the header past the opposing keeper.

As the clock wound down and the match entered into the final minutes, the Mariners still trailed by one. That changed with just under six minutes remaining, when junior Matt Ladd (Griswold, Conn.) executed a perfect throw in from the near side and dropped the ball right into the box where Antunez was there to take control and send it into the back of the net past the diving Fisher keeper.

The Mariners had a real chance to take the lead when Ghirardi was awarded a penalty kick from the top of the box with 40 seconds remaining, but the senior captain put too much into it, sending the ball soaring over the top of the goal. Mitchell outshot Fisher 20-13, with seven of those coming from Lucey. The junior captain also registered a team-best four shots on goal, while Nick Ghirardi finished with four shots, the second most on the team.

Senior goalkeeper Dylan Kinsella (Waterbury, Conn.) enjoyed a strong season debut, recording eight saves against 10 shots on goal.

Mitchell Bourdeau and Tim Schwarz collected the two goals for the Falcons, while Schwarz added an assist. Eduardo Navarro tallied five saves in goal for Fisher.

Prior to the game, the Mariners held a brief ceremony honoring the life of Christian Medina, a former men's soccer and lacrosse player at Mitchell who tragically lost his life this past June.

The Mariners (0-0-1) will return to action following the holiday weekend when they open GNAC play on the road against Elms College on Tuesday, September 5, at 7:00 pm.