News Release

Downing's Header Gives Wentworth First Win of 2008

BOSTON, Mass. � Senior defender Ian Downing�s (Skowhegan, Maine) header with 4:56 remaining in the second overtime capped off a two-goal rally and lifted the Wentworth men�s soccer team to a 2-1 win over Mass. Maritime in a non-league contest played at Sweeney Field.

Despite a scoreless first half, both teams were able to create scoring opportunities, beginning with Leopard sophomore midfielder Dave Fustino (Meriden, Conn.), whose header from point-blank range in the 24th minute was saved by senior Tim Meighan (East Bridgewater, Mass.). Senior midfielder Matt Duggan (Worcester, Mass.) of the Buccaneers had his own chance from close range, but pushed a shot wide. Wentworth would hold a 9-6 shot advantage after 45:00 of play.

The Leopards had two chances early in the second half, but were unable to put a shot on net. However, the visitors would take advantage of their first chance of the second half when sophomore midfielder Christian Lopes (Charlestown, Mass.) came away with the ball after a scrum at the top of the box and rifled a shot to the right side. The goal, which came at 51:18, was Lopes� second of the season.

On the ensuing kickoff, senior forward Kyle Nasman (Lenox, Mass.) would send a pass to his sophomore brother, Ben, who would score his third goal of the season just 12 seconds later.

The Buccaneers had a chance to take a 2-1 lead in the 56th minute when freshman forward Josh Hoy (Camp Hill, Pa.) fired a shot from the far right side that was heading wide. However, it caught the left post and rolled back across before Wentworth was able to clear the play. Both teams would play short from the 64:16 mark on, as Kyle Nasman and Lopes each would receive red cards for their involvement in a skirmish away from the play.

Duggan had two chances within a 32-second span to put his team up, but sophomore keeper Brian Pearsall (Sanford, Maine) came up with a save on both shots. In the 75th minute Pearsall would save a close-range shot off the foot of freshman forward Kevin McCord (Norwell, Mass.), while a header from Ben Nasman from in front of the net would go high in the 77th minute of play. At the end of regulation the Leopards held a slim, 16-14 advantage in the shot category, including a 6-4 advantage in shots on goal.

Despite outshooting its opponents, 5-1, in the first overtime, Wentworth would come up empty, including a bid by sophomore forward Elliot Richmond (Amherst, Mass.) with 1:58 left. Wentworth controlled play in the second overtime and would have three corner kicks. On the third kick, sophomore midfielder Collin Correia (New Bedford, Mass.) served the ball toward the box. After being batted around, freshman midfielder John Geleski (Wayne, N.J.) came up with the ball on the right side, just inside the 18-yard box. He served a cross to Downing, who used his 6-4 frame to flick the ball into the right side of the net at 105:04.

Pearsall, making his first career start, four saves; three came in the second half, while one came in the first overtime. Meighan turned aside seven shots as Wentworth outshot Mass. Maritime, 24-15. Mass. Maritime falls to 0-3 on the year and opens the home portion of its schedule Wednesday night against Becker at 6:30 p.m. That same nigh the 1-2-1 Leopards travel to WPI for a 7:00 p.m. contest against the Engineers.

Submitted 2008-09-08 21:12:46 by Wentworth Institute of Technology Sports Information Department

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