With the score knotted at 1-1 in the 62nd minute in the second half, freshman Ty Taylor (South Africa/Kysersdorp) headed in the go ahead goal off a cross from senior Matt Gill (Winfield, KS/Winfield/Garden City C.C.) eventually giving the Mount Ida men's soccer team the 3-1 victory over Emmanuel College on senior day. The Mustangs (8-5-4, 5-3-1 GNAC), who have secured the fourth seed in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tournament, will host Suffolk University this coming Saturday at home at 3:30 p.m.. The Saints have been knocked out of contention for a playoff bid and end the year at 3-11-2, 1-6-2 in conference play.
The Mustangs gained the lead early in the first half off a cross from the right flank by Jean Demorcy (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) that senior Carmelo Bello (Rocky Hill, CT/Rocky Hill) one timed off the back post into the net for his first goal of the season. Mount Ida would take the quick 1-0 advantage in the 11th minute.
The Saints answered 16 minutes later on a bang-bang play off a threaded pass from sophomore John Hieber (Peabody, MA/Bishop Fenwick). Junior Michael Evans (Yarmouth, ME/Yarmouth) pounded a one timer pass the dive of Mustang keeper Kevin DosSantos (Cumberland, RI/Cumberland/C.C.R.I.). The teams would head into the break knotted at 1-1.
Mount Ida came alive at this point in the 62nd minute off Taylor's goal giving them the outright 2-1 advantage and ultimately the victory. The Mustangs added another in the 83rd minute off a corner kick taken by senior Brandon Chuba (Wallingford, CT/Mark T. Sheehan) that was headed into the left corner by freshman Chris MacKinnon (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury), good for his first goal in a Mustang uniform.
Mount Ida split time between the keepers, each one getting a half a piece. DosSantos stopped 4 shots while senior captain Brian Leighton (Tuner, ME/Leavitt Area) denied two. The Saints goaltender, sophomore Carlos Perez (Boca Raton, FL/Needham (MA)), kept his team alive for a while stopping seven balls. The Mustangs outshot the visitors 21-9. There were no cautions in a very tame match for both sides.
The Mustangs will host Suffolk University in the quarterfinal round of the GNAC tournament this coming Saturday at Mount Ida athletic stadium starting at 3:30 p.m.