Embrace the Victory: AIC Pulls Off Upset in NE10 Men's Soccer Quarters

Embrace the Victory: AIC Pulls Off Upset in NE10 Men's Soccer Quarters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

For the second-straight year in the NE10 Men's Soccer Quarterfinal Round, the No. 8 seed knocked off the top team, as American International upset No. 1 Le Moyne in Syracuse, N.Y. on Tuesday. Here is how all the games played out, setting up the semifinals for Friday. 

#8 AIC 2, #1 Le Moyne 1

SYRACUSE, New York – The eighth-seeded American International College men's soccer team overcame a late first half deficit to stun the top-seeded and No. 15 Le Moyne College Dolphins 2-1 in the Quarterfinal of the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Tournament on Tuesday.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • It was a tightly contested first half, with limited chances for both teams until late in the frame when Le Moyne's Salar Faryar stole the ball at the top of the 18-yard box and fired it into the upper left corner at 40:45 for his 15th of the season.
  • The Yellow Jackets leveled the score nearly immediately; a hand ball in the box gave AIC a penalty kick at 41:26, and the junior midfielder did not miss, striking home his second of the year into the lower right corner of the net.
  • With the match even on the scoreboard, both teams played a tough defensive game throughout the second half; senior goalkeeper Nicholas Romei did not face a shot on goal in the final 45 minutes of play, while the Yellow Jackets had one actual shot on goal, a breakaway by sophomore forward Josip Validzic that was turned aside by Le Moyne goalkeeper Josh Mahr at 52:11.
  • Late in the half, graduate midfielder Alexandre Frank attempted a cross pass from the left side of the box which deflected off of a Dolphins defender and past Mahr for his sixth of the season at 86:02. The goal proved to be the winner, as the defensive unit for AIC held Le Moyne without a scoring chance over the remaining 3:58 to advance to the conference's semifinal round.

#2 Adelphi 2, #7 Southern Conn. State 0

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - An early goal from Paolo Marciano and late insurance from Patrick Guier helped the second-seeded Adelphi University men's soccer team advance to the semifinals of the Northeast-10 Conference tournament on Tuesday evening, as the Panthers defeated seventh-seeded Southern Connecticut State, 2-0. 

Marciano scored his team-leading 11th of the season in the 19th minute of Tuesday's contest, taking a long ball from Stephen Megaloudis at midfield across and past Bailey Bassett in the SCSU net, rallying the opening tally off the far post.

Adelphi (13-3-2) saw its lead double in the 79th minute, as Guier followed up James Thristino's saved effort with a ripped shot across the goal into a nearly open net to make it 2-0.

SCSU (9-9) found some sustained offensive pressure in the second half, taking eight of its 11 shots for the game over the 45 minutes, but ultimately could not break through. In goal, Matt Apicella made four saves for the Panthers. 

With top-seeded Le Moyne losing to eighth-seeded American International in the lone quarterfinal to go against seeding, the Panthers are now the highest seeds remaining in the field, and could be in line to host the conference finals should they win Friday's semifinal match.

#3 SNHU 3, #6 Franklin Pierce 0

Sophomore Tom Marriott (Nottingham, England) notched a goal and an assist, as the third-seeded Southern New Hampshire University men's soccer team shut out in-state rival and sixth-seeded Franklin Pierce University, 3-0, Tuesday night in a Northeast-10 Championship quarterfinal at Penmen Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Southern New Hampshire put Franklin Pierce back on its heels early, as Cruickshank intercepted a pass in the Ravens' defensive half, dribbled into the top of the box on the left side and ripped a shot just inside the near post to make it 1-0 only 2:14 in.
  • The Penmen doubled their lead late in the 21st minute when Marriott collected a rebound from sophomore Nadjib Chibout (Lyon, France) in the middle of the box and blasted a shot off the right post and into the back of the net.
  • SNHU stretched its advantage to 3-0 late in the 67th minute, as Marriott collected a rebound off a free kick and lofted the ball back into the left side of the box where Einarsson booted a low shot off the turf and into the right side of the net.

 #4 Merrimack 2, #5 Assumption 0

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Two goals proved to be the difference Tuesday night, as the Merrimack College men's soccer team secured a spot in the Northeast 10 Conference semifinal with a 2-0 shutout victory over Assumption College.  

Freshman Tola Showunmi started the scoring just seven minutes into the contest, netting his second game-winner of the year against the Greyhounds; junior Aasmund Joedahl netted the go-ahead goal in the first half, and senior Tyler Packett earned his ninth shutout of the season.

With top-seeded Le Moyne falling 2-1 against #8 American International, the Warriors will host the NE10 semifinal Friday night.

Tuesday, October 30th   

Quarterfinals ­- at Higher Seeds

Match 1: #8 American International 2, #1 Le Moyne 1

Match 2: #7 Southern Connecticut 0, #2 Adelphi 2

Match 3: #6 Franklin Pierce 0, #3 Southern New Hampshire 3

Match 4: #5 Assumption 0, #4 Merrimack 2

Friday, November 2nd   
Semifinals - at Higher Seeds

Match 5: #8 American International at #4 Merrimack - 7:00 p.m.

Match 6: #3 Southern New Hampshire at #2 Adelphi - TBD

Sunday, November 4th 
Championship ­ at Highest Seed
            Match 7: Match 5 Winner vs. Match 6 Winner 

                        *Please note that the championship game time shall be 1:00 PM.

ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.

Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.