Box Score WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Five players scored goals and the Eastern Connecticut State University men's soccer team broke open a tight first half with four second-half goals in a 5-0 inter-regional victory over Ramapo College Saturday afternoon in the first match at Thomas Nevers Field since 2008.
Eastern junior forward Cory Tobler's (Portland) third goal of the year in the 11th minute was the difference until Eastern (3-1-0) exploded for four goals in the second half, senior midfielder Matt Esposito's (East Haven) third goal of the season 2:32 into the second half igniting the onslaught.The victory extends Eastern's unbeaten streak against previously-unbeaten Ramapo (3-1-0 to four (3-0-1) and the five-goal decision is the largest by either team in the13th-game series (Ramapo leads, 8-4-1).
Junior midfielder Jon DeCsanova (Glastonbury) scored the second goal of the second half – his first of the season -- to push Eastern's lead to 3-0 and chase Ramapo sophomore staring keeper Steve Monaghan (Middletown, NJ) , and he assisted on senior midfielder Sean Collins' (Bristol) first of the year just over seven minutes later to make it 4-0.
Sophomore forward Tom Vear (Monson, MA) came off the bench to assist on each of Eastern's final two goals and first-year transfers Carl Stensland (Storrs) and Christopher Giustina (Enfield) were both credited with their first points in Eastern uniforms on assists. Stensland set up Tobler with a chip on the first goal, with Tobler sending a ground ball from the left side through the box, where it caromed off the left post and in ahead of the charge of a Ramapo defender. Giustina's corner kick set up DeCasanova's early second-half goal, with DeCasanova finishing senior back Aaron Smiles' (Bedford, MA) header. The corner kick was awarded to Eastern after Monaghan leaped to bat Tobler's high drive over the cross bar.
The Warriors received two goals and three assists from non-starters Luke Capezzone (Colchester), Collins and Vear.
Senior keeper Carl Appel (West Windsor, NJ) came off his line to diffuse several Ramapo bids, but he needed only one save to record his 22nd career full shutout – one shy of the program career record. The save was a key one and came following Tobler's game-opening goal. Appel dove to knocked away a point-block shot from the middle of the box by junior midfielder Danny Walsh (Franklin Lakes, NJ). On their next possession, the Warriors had an identical opportunity but Monaghan came up big against Eastern junior forward Matt Furman (Montville).with 90 seconds left in the first half, Smiles had a chance at the top of the box but his open try sailed over the cross bar.
Eastern was able to limit Ramapo top scorer Rob Santaniello (Oakland, NJ) – last year's New Jersey Athletic Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Year – to one shot, the Warriors outshooting the visitors by a margin of 15-7.
The match was the first on Thomas Nevers Field since November of 2008. While a new drainage system was being installed, the Warriors played their home games at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex in 2009 and 2010.
Eastern visits Wheaton College (MA) Wednesday at 4 p.m.
