Box Score WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Sophomore forward Timothy Jennison (Coventry) scored his second goal of the match and season with 85 seconds left in sudden death overtime to lift the Eastern Connecticut State University men's soccer team to a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Ramapo College of New Jersey Saturday afternoon at Thomas Nevers Field.
Pictured at right: Timothy Jennison
Until Jennison's game-ending goal, neither team could score after Eastern (2-1-1) and Ramapo (2-2-1) traded goals 31 seconds apart midway through the first period. The winner was set up on passes from freshman forward Kyle Peterson (Ivoryton) and senior midfielder Mitch Power (Douglas, MA). Power sent a long pass from the left side into the box, where the ball bounced around and was knocked out by the Ramapo defense. Jennison chased it down from just outside the box on the right side and drove a shot into the box, where it deflected off a Ramapo defender and past Roadrunner senior keeper Steve Monaghan.
The win is the fourth straight in the series for Eastern over Ramapo, which has won eight and six against Eastern, with one tie.
Jennison gave Eastern the lead in the 20th minute, but senior forward Dave Pryzybylo followed 31 seconds later with a 25-yard blast which sailed under the crossbar for his second goal of the year. Jennison set up Richards' goal with a cross from the right flank into the box by freshman forward Mark Richards (Springfield, MA), where freshman forward Eric Fiore (Newtown) re-directed it in the air to the foot of Richards, stationed in front of Monaghan.
Freshman keeper Greg Walton's (Brunswick ME) only save of overtime was a potential game-winner, and came when he smothered a dangerous shot by sophomore forward Abu Bestawros, who received a crossing pass from the left by Pryzybylo and came in alone on Walton. Walton went to the ground to smother the attempt, and senior back Mike Radlbeck (Westbrook) swept in to clear the ball out of danger as it rolled toward the vacated goal.
Minutes before Jennison's game-winner, Eastern senior back Luke Capezzone (Colchester) served a free kick from the left side into box, where Ramapo freshman back Nick Brancato leaped in traffic and sent the ball over just over the crossbar.
Both teams had six shots in the second half and each threatened to break the tie. Walton made a fine stop on an 18-yard shot by Bestawros 13 minutes into the second half, and Monaghan countered by robbing Jennison in the box on a serve by freshman midfielder Nicholas Warren (Southbury). Five minutes later, Warren served another ball to the far post. Ramapo senior back Anthony Pasciolla was unable to control it, but the ball bounced off of him and directly to Monaghan from close range.
Midway through the second half, Eastern freshman forward Alejandro Tobon (West Hartford) unloaded a low shot from box on a cross from freshman midfielder Ryan Pomroy (Ivoryton), but ball sailed just wide of the post.
Each team was credited with 12 shots. Walton made four saves, Monaghan three. Eastern's defense held the Roadrunners without a corner kick.
Easten visits Mitchell College Tuesday at 4 p.m. in its only road match in a stretch of seven contests.
