PRIDE LOSE HEARTBREAKER IN DOUBLE OT, 2-1

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Regis College Men's Soccer Team were defeated 2-1 in double-overtime by New England Collegiate Conference foe Elms College in a NECC semifinal match at Leary Field Friday evening. With the victory, Elms advances to their second straight NECC Championship game.

Less than 10 minutes into the opening half, the Blazers delivered their first blow as freshman midfielder CJ Dabkowski (Springfield, Mass.) dribbled into the top of the box, played the ball to right side to freshman forward Bobby Zaino (Avon, Conn.), who placed a cross to the front of the goal for the finish by junior forward Connor O'Grady (Somers, Conn.), staking Elms to a 1-0 advantage.

In the 75th minute of play, Pride sophomore forward Dillon Lanctot (Somersworth, N.H.) battled through a group of Elms defenders in the box, and played a ball to the front of the goal where junior midfielder Renato Rosas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) raced to the ball and fired a shot into the far upper corner, knotting the game at 1-1. The teams headed to overtime with the score tied at 1-1.

After a scoreless first overtime period, the Blazers broke through with the game-winner with 3:23 to play in the second overtime as senior forward Joseph Coleman (Easthampton, Mass.) fired home a loose ball knocked down by Zaino, sending the Blazers to their second straight NECC Championship game.

The Blazers dominated the shot category, 29-11, during the match. Elms junior goalkeeper Nick Pennant (St. Andrew, Jamaica) made four saves for the Blazers, while Regis sophomore keeper Manny Calderon (Bristol, Conn.) stopped a game-high 13 shots.

The Blazers improved to 9-7-3 on the season, while Regis dropped to 9-11 overall. Elms advances to host Daniel Webster College in the championship game at Leary Field Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

Release Courtesy of Elms College Sports Information