Three Unanswered Second Half Goals Lift Cougars Past Lasers

Newton, MA-- After the Lasell College men's soccer team took a 3-1 lead into the halftime break, the Clark University Cougars came back to score three unanswered goals in the second period to steal away with a 4-3 non-conference victory Wednesday evening, on Grellier Field.

After three lead changes and two ties the Cougars were the featured winners in the non-conference battle. Clark struck first less than for minutes into the contest when Kenny Vera (Franklin Square, NY) nudged in the goal off a corner kick from Gianluca Ranallo (Scarsdale, NY). 

It was shortly thereafter that Lasell's Evan Gaccione (Westerly, RI) drove in a firecracker from the left wing which was two handed swatted away in a sliding save by Cougar goalie Ryan King (Brimfield, MA).  The rebound however, was picked up by Jonathan Klippert (Cumberland, ME) who sliced in the equalizer for the Lasers, at 12:08.

Dan Hatch (Avon, MA) followed up exactly six minutes later to put Lasell on top, 2-1.  Hatch made a cut in front of his defender and Stephen Petrin (Vernon, CT) found him with a leading pass down the middle for the goal. 

Lasell carried their momentum forward producing a two-goal edge less than a minute later.  In the 20th minute, Marcus Lopez (Barrigada, Guam) challenged a Cougar defender to a header, and then followed up by footing the ball as it returned to the ground lodging it just inside the opposite corner's post.  Lasell embraced a 3-1 lead through the remaining twenty five minutes of scoreless soccer which transpired prior to the halftime break. 

A swing in the momentum after the intermission changed the face of the game as the Lasers came out flat and the Cougars found their fire.  Baran Doenmez (Dublin, NH) began the Cougar's run just 46 seconds into the frame, taking a leading pass form William Van Noppen (Providence, RI) through the midfield and launched the goal to close the separation.

Ten minutes later, Ranallo earned his second assist of the evening on a similar play to the first, directing a corner kick to Adrian Blackadar (Warwick, RI) who headed the ball past Laser net minder Matthew Bruninghaus (Plymouth, MA).  

The game-winner was scored at 60:19 when Doenmez tore down field on a breakaway with Blackadar in close parameters. Doenmez had the opportunity to take his chance in a one-on-one with Bruninghaus, but chose to dish off a short pass to Blackadar for the unrivaled shot. 

Clark held a slight edge in shots (14-13) and maintained the upper hand in corner kicks (6-2). King earned the win with three saves as Clark improves to 5-3-1, while Bruninghaus was presented with the loss, making three saves in the contest, leaving Lasell at 4-5-1 this season. 

The Lasers will play next Saturday, October 9th, at Emmanuel College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference showdown.