Utica, NY – The Utica College men's soccer team defeated SUNY Cobleskill in thrilling fashion, thanks to
Alex Purcell's (Lansing, NY/Lansing) overtime score to give the Pioneers the win. UC improves to 2-2 on the season after taking down the Fighting Tigers, 4-3, at home.
Nicolas Diaz (Commack, NY/Commack) put the Pioneers on the 21
st minute as they struck first in the match. Diaz's score was unassisted, marking his first of the season. Less than two minutes later
Julian Fonseca (Rocky Hill, CT/Bridgton) made it 2-0, UC, with the assist coming from junior
Thomas Muller (Camillus, NY/Bishop Ludden). After one half of play, Utica maintained its 2-0 lead over SUNY Cobleskill.
In the opening moments of the second half,
Julian Fonseca (Rocky Hill, CT/Bridgton) netted his fourth goal of the season and second of the game. Fonseca's score gave the host team a 3-0 lead. At around the 55
th minute mark, SUNY Cobleskill got on the board thanks to Aymen Mohamed. The Fighting Tigers would then go on to score two more goals in the final five minutes of the contest, forcing overtime.
Just over five minutes into the first overtime period,
Salvatore Cabibbo (Port Chester, NY/Port Chester) stepped up for the throw in. Cabibbo's toss bounced inside the box and landed at the feet of senior
Alex Purcell (Lansing, NY/Lansing) who buried the game-winning goal for UC. Utica fended off Cobleskill to earn the 4-3 overtime win.
Goalkeeper
Jonathan Side (Plattsburgh, NY/Plattsburgh) made five saves in net to help Utica improve to 2-2.
Julian Fonseca (Rocky Hill, CT/Bridgton) netted two goals, while
Nicolas Diaz (Commack, NY/Commack) and
Alex Purcell (Lansing, NY/Lansing) each scored one.
Thomas Muller (Camillus, NY/Bishop Ludden) and
Salvatore Cabibbo (Port Chester, NY/Port Chester) both registered one assist in the match.
The SUNY Cobleskill goals were scored by Aymen Mohamed, Mame Amar, and Sadou Diallo. Amar also chipped in an assist, while teammate Lucas Jetty recorded two assists. The Fighting Tigers drop to 0-3 on the season.
The Pioneers are back on the pitch Sunday as they play host to Oswego State in the final match of the weekend. The game is set to kick-off at 3 p.m.