Nashua, NH - In a thrilling overtime game, the Raiders of Rivier
College secured a 3-2 victory over Elms College with just 2:28 to
play in the first overtime when Chris Nugent (Camberley,
England) was able to take a centering kick and put in the
lower left corner for a goal, his second goal of the game and the
game winner.
The scoring started early in the first half when Elms jumped out
to a 1-0 lead just 7:45 into the game when Chris Silva (Chicopee,
MA) was able to beat freshman goal keeper Matt St. Peter
(Colchester, VT) off a corner kick from Sam Senecal
(Chicopee, MA). Rivier didn't waste much time tying the game
, scoring less than 5 minutes later when freshman Ford
Coates (Raymond, NH) received a pass from Brian
Joaquim (Mont Vernon, NH). Nugent scored his first
goal of the game during the 21st minute on a pass from
Gustavo Marques (Lowell, MA) to give the Raiders
the 2-1 lead going into the half.
Both teams would have some chances during the second half
without much luck. Senior Chris Hunt (Lisbon,
NH) had two point plank shots on goal to pad Rivier's
lead, the first went off the right post, the second was saved by
Elms keeper Ryan Sullivan (Agawam, MA). With only 4:30 left
in the game the Blazers Justin Pearson (Torrington, CT) got a shot
off that would beat St. Peter to the left corner of the goal and
give Elms life as they tied the game to force a sudden death
overtime period.
Rivier controlled most of the overtime, getting off three shots
on goal with the last one finding the back of the net. Coates
had a ball deep into the right corner of the field and kicked a
great centering pass that fellow freshman Mike Birecki
(Andover, MA) was able to get a head on. The ball
then sailed to the foot of Nugent who blasted it into goal.
With the win, Rivier College improves to 4-12 while Elms College
falls to 4-13. Rivier will travel north play a makeup game
Wednesday, October 28 against St. Joseph's of Maine. If the
Raiders can secure a victory it would propel them into the playoffs
as the 8 seed.
