Magnusson Nets Two as Gulls Make Comeback in OT Thriller

DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The Endicott men's soccer team traveled to UMass. Dartmouth on Tuesday evening for a non-conference matchup. After trailing by two goals in the second half the Gulls rallied with three straight goals to secure an overtime victory.  Senior Jed Magnusson (Kingston, N.H.) scored the first and final goal of the game for his first goals of the season. Endicott improves to 5-4-1 (1-1-1 CCC) while the Corsairs fall to 3-5-1. Endicott has now defeated the non-conference opponent for two straight seasons.

Endicott will see action next on Saturday, October 4^th as they travel to cross-town rival and Commonwealth Coast Conference opponent, Gordon for a 2:30 start. The Corsairs will also take the field next on the 4^th as they travel to conference opponent Southern Maine for a noon time start.

The first half was a battle as UMass. Dartmouth just outshot the Blue and Green 5-4 while taking a one goal advantage. The Corsairs got on the board first at the 17 minute mark after senior Josh Chao (New Bedford, Mass.) sent a shot over the Endicott defense with help from sophomore Georges Tenie (Lunenburg, Mass.) and junior Corey Morris (Freehold, N.J.) to make it a 1-0 game.

Both sides worked their respective offensive zones for the remainder of the first half but neither could find the back of the net as the first half ended in the Corsairs' favor 1-0.

The second half showed a different flock of Gulls who came out of the gates firing as they outshot their opponent 14-6. Seven minutes into the second half the Corsairs made it a two goal game after junior Troy Martins (Attleboro, Mass.) received a feed from Tenie and slipped the ball past senior goalkeeper Alex Jorge (Billerica, Mass.).

Trailing by two goals the Blue and Green went full force in the final third with huge shots from junior Diego Slobotzky (Mexico City, Mexico), and senior Zach Rizzo (Redding, Conn.).  In the 58^th minute Endicott made it a one goal game after Magnusson tallied his first goal of the season after he controlled a crisp pass from Rizzo and sent the ball into the back of the net.

The one goal deficit would not last for long as sophomore Brion Likaj (Salem, Mass.) followed with the game tying goal three minutes later with the assist going to junior Kyle Bisceglia (New Boston, N.H.).

With the game tied the Blue and Green continued to pepper UMass. Dartmouth goalkeeper, sophomore Luis Carranza (New Bedford, Mass.), hungry to take the advantage. After multiple opportunities the Gulls could not capitalize as regulation ended with a 2-2 score forcing extra time.

Just over five minutes into overtime the Blue and Green continued their success from the second half as Likaj sent a ball to Slobotzky who then headed the ball to Magnusson who slipped the ball past Carranza to secure the game winner.

Magnusson and Likaj both tallied their first goals on the season while Jorge wrapped up the game with five saves while his counterpart Carranza made six.