Oct. 1, 2011

Box Score

Boston, Mass. - Junior forward Kevin Shirley (Madison, Conn.) broke a scoreless match with his third goal of the season in the first overtime session to lift the Emmanuel College men's soccer team over Saint Joseph's College (ME), 1-0, Saturday afternoon at Clemente Field in Boston, Mass. With the win, the Saints improve to 5-3-4 on the season and 2-3 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action while the loss drops the Monks to 6-3 overall, 3-2 in GNAC play.

With 2:55 to play in the overtime session, sophomore midfielder Danny Richman (Medfield, Mass.) fired a strike from 25-yard away that found its way on net, forcing Monks sophomore goalkeeper Kenny Grade (Hampton, N.H.) to make a save. After the initial stop, the ball came loose from Grade's grasp and a streaking Shirley was able to poke the ball home to lift Emmanuel to its second conference victory of the season.

The Monks controlled play through much of the second half and had the game's best scoring opportunity in regulation when the Saints were whistled for a foul from just outside their own 18-yard box 10 minutes into half. While Emmanuel was setting up the wall and freshman keeper Garrett Charette (West Springfield, Mass.) was setting up the wall, sophomore forward Zach Johnson (Westbrook, Maine) never asked for the wall to move back 10-yards, instead striking the ball while the wall's backs were turned towards a wide open right-side of the goal. Fortunately for the Saints the ball sailed just over the crossbar and the score remained deadlocked at 0-0 until Shirley's heroics in the overtime period.

Both teams had decent scoring opportunities early in the first half of play as well but could not convert. Emmanuel had the game's first good look as sophomore forward Allan Parrelli (Reading, Mass.) was able to break through the Monks defensive line at the 12 minute mark but was unable to get a shot off as he was chased down inside the 18-yard box. Shortly after, Saint Joseph's controlled possession deep within Emmanuel's defensive zone and gained a series of throw-ins that were taken by junior midfielder Jack LaFreniere (Alton, N.H.). The Monks had several good looks resulting from the throw-ins but were unable to convert.

On the game the Monks outshot the Saints, 17-6 and held a 5-3 advantage on corner kicks.

Charrett picked up his second collegiate victory, making four saves on the afternoon after relieving senior keeper Wilhelm Du Bois (Key Biscayne, Fla.) with two minutes remaining in the first half after upperclassman collided with a Monk forward and suffered a head injury. Du Bois made three saves before exiting the match.

For the Monks, Grade made four saves in between the pipes.

The Saints will return to action on Monday, September 3 when they head to Chicopee, Mass. to take on Elms College at Leary Field in a 7:00 PM contest while Saint Joseph's heads to Beverly, Mass. on Tuesday afternoon to face off against Endicott College at 6:30 PM.