Box Score Alfred, NY – The D'Youville men's soccer team won their first game of the season with last second heroics on Friday afternoon over the Alfred State Pioneers by the final score of 1-0.
Both teams were slow on offense to start the game, with the first shot of the game coming off the foot of Aaron Zelko (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) in the 14th minute. After Zelko's shot, the D'Youville offense would turn up the pressure. In a matter of 7 minutes, freshman Justin Pepe (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) and sophomore Brandon Pauly (Owego, NY/Owego) would combine for 7 corner kicks against the Pioneer defense.
The Spartans would get shots on frame from players such as Josh Hammer (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home), Pauly, Zelko and Patrick Mann (Brighton, NY/Brighton) in the first half, but none would find the back of the net and the half would end with the scored tied at 0.
Alfred State would get the first shot of the second half, with goalkeeper Brett Matthews (Angola, NY/Lake Shore) making his first save of the game. D'Youville would continue to apply pressure to the Pioneers' defense as the half went on, but were shut down repeatedly.
Just when it seemed as the game was destined for overtime, Alfred State fouled D'Youville for a free kick outside the box. Brandon Pauly stepped up with :37 left in the game and drilled the ball into the back of the net from 20 yards out and gave the Spartans their first victory of the season.
"This is a good feeling," said third year Head Coach Brendan Murphy.
"I know the boys are really enjoying this because it was a true testament to their work rate, discipline and overall team first attitude," Murphy continued.
Pauly, last season's leading point scorer, led the team in shots with 3 and shots on goal with 2. Hammer, Pepe and Jeffery Espinoza (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) all recorded a shot, with Mann and Zelko accounting for 2 shots each. The team had a season high 10 shots in the game.
Last season, the Spartans earned their first win of the season against the Pioneers in dramatic fashion as well. This season, Alfred State was just as difficult to face, according to Murphy.
"Alfred State worked extremely hard and made it very difficult for us. We were able to put ourselves in the position to have a chance to win that game with else than a minute left because we just kept fighting for each other."
The team's defense was a big reason the team won the game. Defenders Daniel Tarbell (Clarence, NY/Clarence), Conner Ward (San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic), Joe Hall (Chino, CA/Loyola), Aweso Noor Buffalo, NY/Canisius) and Josh Hammer all played key roles in goalkeeper Brett Matthews first shutout of the season.
Coach Murphy looks to take this momentum from tonight's big win and use it moving forward.
"We needed something to build off of and this gives us the confidence to go to battle and feel good about our chances to come away with a victory."
The men will get their chance to add to their season win total on Saturday as they head to Westminster to face off against the Titans at 3pm.
