COLONELS BEAT LASERS 1-0 IN ECAC QUARTER FINALS

The Curry College Colonels brought the Lasell College Lasers' men's soccer 2008 season to and end in the quarter finals of the 2008 ECAC DIII Men's Soccer Championship Tournament this afternoon, at Katz Field. The Colonels took a 1-0 decision, scoring the game winner in the 62nd minute.

Almost fourteen minutes passed in the first half before either team got a shot off.  Curry junior Benjamin Radzicki (Sterling, MA) attempted to score first, with a close range shot at Lasell's keeper Julian Dutton (Madison, CT).  Dutton protected the Lasers' net, swatting the shot away, but the deflection was picked up by Curry's Sam Schwarz (Byfield, MA) who shot again, this time kicked saved by Lasell's Robbie Gonzalez (Palmdale, CA), preventing the goal. 

The teams battled back and forth, each going on spurts, but neither side able to produce an lead.  During the final ten minutes of the first half, the Lasers found their best chances to pull ahead. Kyle Cronin (Weymouth, MA) first set up Steve Petrin (Vernon, CT) to fire as shot at Curry's goalkeeper Brian Newsome (Lawrenceville, NJ), who made a beautiful diving save, at 34:46.  Zach Gagne (Somerset, MA) then drove a hard shot at the Colonel's goal at 43:25, which Newsome stopped again. The half ended in a scoreless tie.

The second half opened with two quick shots by Curry, and saves by Dutton.  Lasell fired back shots by Gagne and Petrin, but they were also unable to connect.  

At 62:31, senior defender Graham Becker (Sparks Glencoe, MD) sent a 40 yard pass in front of Lasers net, which Radzicki tipped in with his head. Though Lasers continued to play hard for the remaining minutes of the game, the Colonels conserved their 1-0 advantage, and Lasell admitted defeat as the final seconds clicked off the clock.  

Dutton played a tremendous game, picking up 11 total saves.  The Lasell defense was strong as well, with Paul Meucci (Vernon, CT) and Rocco Mazzaferro (Niskayuna, NY) taking on the brunt of the work in the back field.  Steven Salerno (Stoneham, MA) and Jareb Sechrist (Auburn, CA) stepped in and stepped up to aid in securing the Lasers net, and junior Sean Fisher (Griswold, CT) was tough on defense as well, before an injury sidelined him in the first period. 

The Lasers finished their season making their second program appearance in the ECAC Championships, and at a final record of 12-8-0.