Ansani’s Game Winner Sends Men’s Soccer Past Elms to First GNAC Win
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Elms (3-7-0, 2-5-0) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
Mitchell (1-8-1, 1-6-0) | 0 | 2 | 2 |
NEW LONDON, Conn. – Freshman Gabe Ansani (Trumbull, Conn.) fired home the go-ahead goal with just three minutes and 16 seconds remaining on Tuesday afternoon, propelling the Mitchell College men's soccer team to their first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) win of the season, a 2-1 comeback against Elms College at Alumni Field.
Ansani's second goal of the fall came off an assist by senior captain Dylan Lucey (Lebanon, Conn.) and completed what was a dramatic storming back by the Mariners, who trailed for nearly the entire contest. The Blazers opened up the scoring four minutes and seven seconds into the game, as Patrico Vidales took a feed from Brandyn Costa and send it soaring into the back of the net.
The two teams matched each other across the first half, with Mitchell and Elms each getting off six shots over the first 45 minutes.
The score remained deadlocked deep into the second stanza, until the 84th minute when Ansani sent a through ball to sophomore Nathan Da Cruz (Seymour, Conn.). Da Cruz took the pass in stride, outran his defender, then sent the ball past the diving Elms keeper in the bottom left corner of the goal. Ansani's game winner came three and a half minutes later when a throw in from the far side landed at Lucey's feet. The senior took possession and made a move, spinning to the ground while flicking a pass to a patiently waiting Ansani, who in turn ripped in the deciding goal.
The three points by Ansani are the most by a Mitchell player this season, and the freshman finished with three shots, two of which were on goal. Da Cruz registered a team-high six shots, four on goal, while junior Flavio Alvarado got off three shots, nearly missing on a pair of goals during the first half.
Senior goalkeeper Dylan Kinsella (Waterbury, Conn.) played the first 45 minutes for the Mariners and made three saves. Sophomore Jesse Jenkins (Windsor, Conn.) came on to play the second half, earning the victory by turning away a pair of shots. The Mariners outshot the Blazers 17-10, while Elms held a 6-5 advantage in corner kick opportunities.
Aidan Berube made six saves for the Blazers, while Brandyn Costa and Patricio Vidales tallied three shots each, a team-high figure.
The Mariners (1-8-1, 1-6 GNAC) will look to make it back to back GNAC wins when they return to play on Saturday, October 5, with a road showdown at Saint Joseph's College (ME). Elms (3-7, 2-5 GNAC) play next on Saturday, October 5, in a conference matchup at Emmanuel College.
