FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2012
Courtesy of Southern New Hampshire Athletics Communications
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – A goal by Mohamed Toufik 4:17 into the second half proved to be the difference as second-seeded Southern New Hampshire University topped No. 1 seed Merrimack College 2-1 in the finals of the 2012 Northeast-10 Conference Men's Soccer Championship Sunday afternoon at Martone-Mejail Field.
The Penmen improve to 17-3 overall, while the Warriors, who saw a 13-game unbeaten streak snapped, now stand 14-3-2 on the season.
For So. New Hampshire, it marks their fourth NE-10 Championship title since joining the league in 2000, with the other coming in 2000, 2002 and 2008. Both So. New Hampshire and Merrimack are expected to earn bids to the NCAA Tournament that kicks off Thursday. The NCAA selection show will air on ncaa.com on Monday (Nov. 5) at 7:00 p.m.
Merrimack trailed 1-0 at halftime, but tied the game just 2:14 into the second half. Douglas Searl sent a cross along the endline from the right side over to Augusto Silva. Silva's first shot was snuffed out by Penmen keeper Dom DiMaggio, but Silva's second effort tied the game and gave him his second goal of the season.
The Penmen reclaimed the lead in the 50th minute on a restart. Keegan Campbell played a long ball into the box that Jordan Branco collected. After making a move he gave it off to Toufik, who found the right side of the goal for his seventh tally of 2012.
So. New Hampshire staked itself to a 1-0 lead just past the game's 25-minute mark. Campbell made a long throw into the box from the right side that bounced off several players before Sam Kelley controlled it and fired into the upper left corner of the goal for his third goal of the season.
DiMaggio, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the championship, made two saves, while Merrimack keeper Jose Silva turned aside six shots and the Warriors were also credited with a team save. The Penmen outshot Merrimack 21-9 on the afternoon. So. New Hampshire also generated a 7-2 corner kick advantage.
In addition to DiMaggio, Toufik and Ruben Resendes were named to the All-Championship Team from So. New Hampshire. Representing Merrimack on the squad was Franklin Lemus Pena and Jose Silva, while Franklin Pierce's Tyler Rosa and UMass Lowell's Dan Galvan were also recognized on the All-Championship Team.
With the So. New Hampshire women also winning their Northeast-10 Championship on Sunday, So. New Hampshire becomes just the third school to claim both NE-10 soccer crowns in the same year. Springfield College did it in 1989, while Franklin Pierce achieved the feat in 2006.
The Northeast-10 Conference is an association of 16 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,000 student-athletes. Each year, 4,000 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 23 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
2012 Northeast-10 Men's Soccer All-Championship Team
Tyler Rosa, Franklin Pierce
Dan Galvin, UMass Lowell
Franklin Lemus Pena, Merrimack
Jose Silva, Merrimack
Dom DiMaggio, So. New Hampshire
Ruben Resendes, So. New Hampshire
Mohamed Toufik, So. New Hampshire
Most Outstanding Player - Dom DiMaggio, So. New Hampshire
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