Penalties End Men's Soccer Season in ECAC Quarterfinals

Beverly, Mass. (11/9/2012) - The Lasell College men's soccer team battled to a scoreless tie at Endicott College in the quarterfinal round of the ECAC tournament, before ultimately seeing the Gulls advance on penalties 3-2. Lasell ends their season at 15-4-1, tying a program mark for wins in a season that was set in 2003.

Lasell controlled the pace in the opening minutes as they were able to receive back to back corners in the second minute.  The Gulls were able to thwart both corners and wound up gaining control back as they put together the first quality scoring chance of the match.  Freshman Zach Rizzo (Redding, Conn.) played a cross from right to left that found the head of Kyle Bisceglia (New Boston, N.H.) in the box.  Bisceglia's header was turned away by keeper Miguel Colmenares (Caracas, Venezuela) to keep the score knotted at 0-0. 

The next viable scoring chance would be for the visitors as Nery Guerra (Guatemala City, Guatemala) would put a shot on frame from 20 yards out.  Guerra's shot took an awkward bounce that keeper Daniel Higgins (South Kingstown, R.I.) bobbled before securing the ball. 

The Lasers finally got it in front of the Endicott goal as Lasell's leading scorer Mike Skelton (Conway, N.H.) was able to snap a shot on the low post but Higgins was able to cover it up. 

Endicott didn't waste any time offensively early in the second half as Connor Gibbs (Westborough, Mass.) notched a pair of quality chances.  Gibbs' first chance came in the third minute of the second half that was shot low towards the center of the net.  Colmenares made a diving stop and served up a rebound that was cleared by the Lasell backline.  Four minutes later Gibbs blasted a shot on net from 25 yards out that went to the low right post.  Colmenares was again tested and his diving save pushed the ball out of bounds giving the Gulls a coener that would prove to be unthreatening.

Jared Lewis (Haverhill, Mass.) blasted the hardest shot of the night on frame as he took a deflected ball on the left hand side of the box and rocketed the ball towards new Endicott keeper Austin Peluso (Farmington, Conn.).  Peluso was able to deflect the shot and clear the rebound to calm the defense down.  Endicott countered immediately as Jordan Daniel took in a feed in the box, settled, turned and fired the shot to the lower left post across the frame.  The ball went past an outstretched Colmenares and slid by the post to keep an exciting affair scoreless. 

At the start of overtime, Jared Lewis was able to take a feed down the left hand wing and one time it on goal, however it was just over the cross bar.wMinutes later, Jordan Daniel found himself one on one with the Lasell keeper and tried to go top corner but again put too much under it and the ball flew harmlessly out of bounds four minutes into the first overtime period. 

With just one minute left in the first overtime period, Isaac Soares (Somerset, Mass.) took a feed off of a free kick that glanced off the cross bar and out of bounds for an Endicott goal kick.  That opportunity would be the last true chance of the first overtime period.

With three minutes left in the second overtime, Peluso was forced to make a highlight save as Lewis slipped behind the Endicott defense and launched a shot to the lower right corner, requiring a diving save from Peluso.

Lasell started the shootout by having their goalie Colmenares take the first attempt.  Peluso made a diving stop to save the shot.  Jordan Daniel then buried his attempt to give the Gulls the 1-0 advantage in kicks.  Soares was able knock his home to even it up and Al Khalifa had his saved to make it a 1-1 tie.  Lasell's Skelton and Endicott's Gnecco each hit their shots to make it 2-2 after three rounds.  Lasell missed the fourth attempt as Rizzo buried his opportunity to give Endicott the 3-2 advantage after four rounds.  Peluso then made another highlight save to help Endicott advance 3-2 on penalty kicks. 

Endicott advances to take on Coast Guard on Saturday at 1 p.m.  The game will be held at Roger Williams University.