WILLIMANTIC, Conn. - The Eastern Connecticut State University men's soccer team used a 72-second window to score both of its goals on an afternoon dominated by near-misses and the Warriors emerged with a 2-1 non-conference victory over Bridgewater State College Sunday afternoon at Thomas Nevers Field.
Both teams entered play sharing tenth place in the most recent NSCAA New England regional poll and boasting long unbeaten streaks. Eastern (9-1-3) stretches its unbeaten streak to 11 matches (8-0-3) - its longest streak since a 15-0 start in 1969 - while Bridgewater (9-2-2) had a nine-game unbeaten streak ended.
Outside of that 72-second span, the Warriors were unable to capitalize on numerous opportunities, many of them coming when they spent most all of the first 45 minutes in their offensive end.
The Warriors trailed 1-0 until tying the game 1-1 with 31:50 left in the match on senior midfielder James Picarella's (Brewster, NY) first goal of the season. Just over a minute later, they went ahead for good on all-region forward Maxim Fantl's (West Hartford) team-leading 11 goal of the season.
After Bridgewater struck first in the ninth minute on senior back Jon Machado's (Weymouth, MA) second goal of the season, Eastern could not cash in on at least five legitimate bids throughout the rest of the half. Among the lost chances was a penalty kick which was first awarded after a clash in the box, then negated following a consulation between referee Randolph Croteau and his linesmen.
Also in the first half, Picarella had two near-misses, hammering one shot directly at Bridgewater senior keeper Ryan Seifert (Ludlow, MA) and sending another shot on the ground inches wide of the post. Fantl also volleyed a pass from freshman back Aaron Smiles (Bedford, MA) right at Seifert with 12 minutes leftf. With time running out in the half, Fantl found freshman midfielder Matt Esposito (East Haven) all alone in front of the goal with a backward volley, but Esposito's unmolested attempt hit the outside netting of the goal as time was running out.
Picarella finally tied the score with 31:50 left in the match with a perfectly-placed 25-yarder on a pass from freshman midfielder Sean Collins (Bristol). Picarella drove the shot to the far left post, where Seifert's perfectly-timed dive to the right came up inches short. Seventy-two seconds later, Fantl leaped to head in a free kick from Smiles, who was credited with his team-leading fifth assist of the season on the play.
Bridgewater's first-half goal began with a free kick from just outside the box by sophomore midfielder Donald Flores (Cranston, RI). Machado controlled the pass and sent a low shot through a crowd toward freshman keeper Carl Appel (West Windsor, NJ). Appel appeared to have smothered the attempt, but the momentum of the ball carried through his legs and rolled into the net. It was only the fourth goal given up this year in the first half by Appel, who has an overall 0.76 goals-against average and .833 save percentage.
Eastern had a number of additional chances in the second half to pad its lead, and had to withstand one Bridgewater flurry in the final minutes that nearly forced overtime. The best second-half chance for Eastern came on senior back Kyle Bedini's (Manchester) free kick from just outside the box, but Seifert was able follow the flight of the ball through a crowd and with an all-out dive, knock the shot heading inside the left post away with his fingertips.
Bridgewater was held without a shot in the second half until collecting two inside the final two minutes.
Eastern improves to 7-1 at home this year. The loss was the first for Bridgewater away from home after six wins and a tie. By defeating the Bears by a goal in each of the last three meetings, Eastern has tied the all-time series at 6-6-4.