FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 2 Adelphi and No. 4 Merrimack will meet in the NE10 Men's Soccer Championship on Sunday, as the two programs each earned NE10 semifinals victories on Friday evening. The game will take place on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Garden City, N.Y.
#2 Adelphi 1, #3 Southern New Hampshire 0 - Box Score
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - The Adelphi University men's soccer team is headed back to the Northeast 10 Championship game for the third time in the past four seasons.
The second-seeded Panthers (14-3-2) dispatched fourth-seeded Southern New Hampshire (13-4-2) in Friday night's semifinal on a rainy Motamed Field on the strength of Taylor Kacsynzki's eighth goal of the season, scored in the 15th minute off an assist from NE10 Rookie of the Year Paolo Marciano.
The Brown and Gold ground out a victory over 90 minutes, despite being out-shot by the Penmen by a staggering 22-4 margin overall. Matt Apicella stood tall in goal, making seven saves in the Panther net to score his ninth shutout of the season.
The Panthers' foe for a league title will be fourth-seeded Merrimack (14-5), who dispatched eighth-seeded American Int'l in Friday's second semifinal, 2-1, after the Yellow Jackets defeated top-seeded Le Moyne College in the previous round.
Adelphi defeated Merrimack in the regular-season meeting between the two squads on Oct. 13 in overtime, getting the game-winner from James Thristino in the 93rd minute. Tommy Speed also scored for the Panthers in that contest.
#4 Merrimack 2, #8 American International 1 - Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Trailing by a goal into the second half, the Merrimack College men's soccer team was able to net two in the final 45 minutes, earning a birth in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship for the second straight year with a 2-1 victory over American International College.
Merrimack dominated possession early, but it was the visitors who struck first. A bending shot outside the 18 gave Connor Hicks and AIC the lead.
After nearly 30 minutes of scoreless play, it was senior Lars Sund who buried the equalizer; fifteen minutes later, sophomore Filippo Begliardi Ghidini headed a highlight-goal that sealed the deal.
How it Happened:
- The opening 10 minutes were a standstill; with a championship birth on the line, neither squad got a true shot off.
- In the 14th minute, Merrimack nearly opened up the scoring. A cross inside the box was one-timed in mid-air by senior Lars Sund, who side-volleyed a shot that was deflected by a Yellowjacket defender.
- AIC struck first in the 17th minute. After a physical play on a Merrimack clearance, sophomore Connor Hicks saw the ball roll right onto his foot; from the 18-yard box, he turned and fired a beautiful upper-90 shot that senior goaltender Tyler Packett just missed.
- Merrimack put on 10 shots at the half, but couldn't get anything from it and trailed by a goal at the break.
- Just two minutes into the second half, the Warriors netted the equalizer. A set piece from 30 yards out was taken by senior Lars Sund; deep into the top right corner, confusion in the box combined with the perfectly-placed shot resulted in a goal.
- In the 64th minute, the Warriors took the lead. Freshman Tola Showunmi battled through the 18 and was able to leave a ball off for junior Aasmund Joedahl; his cross inside the 6-yard box looked to be well too high, but sophomore Filippo Begliardi Ghidinirose up and knocked the ball off the post and in, giving the Warriors a one-goal advantage.
Final scores from around the NE10 tonight. Championship games are set for Sunday!
— The NE10 (@TheNortheast10) November 2, 2018
MSOC ⚽️@AUPanthers vs. @MC_Athletics - 1 p.m.
WSOC ⚽️@FPUathletics vs. @acgreyhounds - 5 p.m.#NE10EMBRACE pic.twitter.com/DZyfgyu2hb
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: #4 Merrimack 2, #8 American International 1
Match 6: #2 Adelphi 1, #3 Southern New Hampshire 0
Sunday, November 4th
Championship at Adelphi
Match 7: #4 Merrimack at #2 Adelphi
*Please note that the championship game time shall be 1:00 PM.
-Information for this release provided by Adelphi and Merrimack athletic communications offices-
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.