Wednesday, October 5, 2011(Newton, Massachusetts) - The Mount Ida College men's soccer team played a solid first half but struggled to find the back of the net falling to visiting Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) member Albertus Magnus College 2-0 Wednesday afternoon in Newton, Massachusetts. Wind played a big factor in the contest aiding the visitors in scoring their second goal of the game.
The Mustangs drop their second league loss in a row falling to an overall record of 3-7-0 with a conference slate of 2-4-0. The visitors remain at the top of the GNAC standings with a 2011 record of 9-2-0 with a perfect league slate of 6-0-0.
After a very competitive first half with no score, the Falcons found the back of the net on a bounding ball in the middle of the 18 yard box that bounced around three players.
Albertus Magnus freshman Lindsley Barrett (Shelton, CT/Shelton) took initiative and volleyball a shot into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead in the 54th minute.
Mount Ida continued to have problems scoring or creating any chances and eventually gave up an insurance goal in the 70th minute. Freshman Jessa Plona (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) blasted a goal kick with the wind at his back to a streaking Falcon, junior Stephen Zapata (Hamden, CT/Hamden), down the middle of the field. Zapata beat two Mustang defenders and ripped a shot into the left corner of the net for the 2-0 lead and eventually the GNAC victory.
The visitors led in shots taken up 19-8 throughout the entire game and also were ahead in corners leading 8-2.
Mount Ida goalkeeper Mat Pils (Monroe, CT/Masuk) denied four Falcon shots while visiting goaltender sophomore Donato Piroscafo (Naugatuck, CT/Naugatuck) added two stops.
The Mustangs will travel to Anna Maria College this coming Saturday for another league match-up with game time slated for 2:30 p.m. The Falcons will host GNAC foe Emerson College starting at 1:00 p.m.