SPRINGFIELD, Mass. –  Senior back Bradley Fletcher (Middletown) converted a penalty kick goal 84 seconds into sudden-death overtime as the Eastern Connecticut State University men's soccer team  won the  Soccer City Shootout championship Sunday afternoon with a 2-1 victory over the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Suprenant Field on the Western New England University campus.

Fletcher knocked in his second career goal inside the right post beyond the dive of Merchant Marine junior keeper Stephen Fucito after the Mariners were whistled for a hand ball after the Warriors had served the ball into the box.

The tournament title is the third season-opening one in the last four year under head coach Greg DeVito for Eastern (2-0-0), which advanced to the title with a 3-0 triumph over No. 23 nationally-ranked Western New England Saturday afternoon. Merchant Marine (1-1-0) had edged Springfield College, 1-0, Saturday. All four tournament teams are coming off NCAA appearances, with Eastern and Merchant Marine having qualified each of the last three years.

Junior midfielder Carl Stensland ( Storrs) came off the bench to tie the match 15 minutes into the second half by converting a head ball in traffic on a serve from junior back Christopher Giustina (Enfield). Stensland was Eastern's starting midfielder in his first season last year but his minutes were limited in the tournament due to a quad pull suffering in the pre-season.

Merchant Marine had scored the first goal in the fifth minute of play during a horrential downpour which marred the first seven minutes of play and forced a 17-minute delay, but was able to add to its total by Eastern s enior keeper Jordan Munsell (Waterford). Munsell, who made four saves, allowed only one goal in two tournament starts in his first season as the starting keeper.

Despite scoring the game-winning goal, Fletcher was recognized as the tournament Most Outstanding Defensive Player as he played all but 23  total minutes in two matches. Junior forward Mitch Power (Douglas, MA) was selected as the invitational's Most Outstanding Offensive Player after scoring the first goal in Saturday's win over host Western New England  and finishing with nine of the team's 28 shots in two matches. 

Junior back Mike Radlbeck (Westbrook) and Munsell represented Eastern on the all-tournament team. Radlbeck had a goal and assist in Saturday's victory.

Eastern opens at home Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. against Trinity College at Thomas Nevers Field.