MSOC: Lasell nips Anna Maria in overtime; Stewart scores game-winner for Lasers

NEWTON, Mass. – Sophomore Kyle Stewart (Webster, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal two-and-a-half minutes into overtime Saturday afternoon as the Lasell University men's soccer team edged Anna Maria College, 2-1, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) game at Taylor Field.

The Lasers won their third game in a row, all by a 2-1 score, to remain alive for a GNAC playoff berth. Lasell improves to 4-13 overall and 3-5 in the GNAC, while Anna Maria drops to 4-13 overall and 1-7 in conference play.

Stewart collected the ball on the left side of the field just inside the box and fired a shot just inside the upper left corner of the net for the game-winner, his first goal of the season.

The Lasers jumped on top in the 21st minute of the game when junior Kevin Pitt (Bayshore, N.Y.) took a through-ball pass from classmate Simon Nigro (Simsbury, Conn.) and slid a shot past Anna Maria keeper Jeffre Donahue (Rockland, Mass.).

Lasell kept the upperhand most of the game, outshooting the Amcats 26-11 on the day. It looked like Pitt's goal would be the difference, but Anna Maria's Hezekiah Adeyeye (Woonsocket, R.I.) fired a shot from the top of the box that got past Lasell keeper Chris Tran (Nantucket, Mass.) inside the right post to tie the score with 3:25 remaining in regulation.

The home team had the only two shots in overtime, including Stewart's game-winner.

Lasell senior keeper Jackson Burhans (Berlin, N.Y.) made one save for Lasell in the first half, and Tran finished with three saves in the second half. Donahue finished with nine saves for the Amcats.

Prior to the game, Lasell honored its seniors on Senior Day, including Jackson Burhans (Berlin, N.Y.), Andrew Flores-McKenna (Rockville Centre, N.Y.), David Perry (Canton, Mass.), Alex Strafer (Auburn, Mass.), Chris Tran (Nantucket, Mass.), Francisco Villacorta (Lima, Peru), and Jared Petrie (Milford, Conn.).

The Lasers look to continue their momentum on Wednesday, October 23, with a key GNAC home game vs. Suffolk University at 3:30 p.m. Anna Maria returns home to host Emmanuel College in a GNAC matchup on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.

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