WEYMOUTH, MASS. (8/31/13) – The Lasell College men's soccer team opened their 2013 season with a victory in the first game of the Lasell College Kick-Off Classic, defeating Newbury College 2-1. Conor Fitzgerald (Marshfield, Mass.) and Manny Alves (Pawtucket, R.I.) each tallied goals for Lasell, with Mike Skelton (Conway, N.H.) and Servi Barrientos (Providence, R.I.) collecting assists during the match. David Linder (Revere, Mass.) scored for Newbury on an assist from German Canales (Lynn, Mass.) in the second half. Lasell opened their season 1-0, while Newbury fell to 0-1. Newbury will face UMass-Boston in the tournament's consolation game tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. while Lasell will square off with Fitchburg State in the event's championship match at 2:30 p.m.
Lasell got on the board first in the eighth minute of action when Mike Skelton ran onto a ball played over the top of the Nighthawks defense and slid a pass back across to Conor Fitzgerald who easily finished into the open net. The Lasers went on top 2-0 in the 18th minute when Manny Alves powered a header off a corner by Servi Barrientos past the Nighthawks keeper. The hosts had the better of the run of play in the opening half, holding a 6-3 edge in shots at intermission, while controlling possession.
The visitors stepped up their pressure in the second half, and displayed more composure on the ball, creating some dangerous opportunities. Newbury pulled a goal back in the 68th minute when David Linder collected a long ball off the foot of German Canales and slotted past the Lasers keeper Colmenares.
Newbury disrupted the Lasers attack, forcing Lasell to settle for shots from distance, and while they were unable to find an equalizer, showed some strong attacking inclinations over the final 45 minutes of action.
Miguel Colmenares (Doral, Fla.) stopped a pair of shots in net for Lasell to earn the victory, while Cody Nash-Gibney (South Burlington, Vt.) made six saves while taking the loss of Newbury.