Men's Soccer Sees Season End in Overtime Thriller at Mount Ida

NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell College men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker in overtime to the Mustangs of Mount Ida College in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) quarterfinal match on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Field. After a pair of goals by senior Carlos Martinez (Chelsea, Mass.), the second seeded Mustangs (12-5-1) will play the semifinals on their home turf with #6 Albertus Magnus on Wednesday, November 4^th, with game time still yet to be determined.

With 2:47 remaining in the first overtime period on Sunday, Martinez received a ball played over the top by junior Shawn Bernardo (Peabody, Mass.), that left him unguarded behind the defensive back-line of the Lasers.

The flag for offsides stayed down, however, and Martinez was left one on one with Lasell goalie Miguel Colmenares (Caracas, Venezuela), who he deked and slotted past for the decisive goal, his first game-winner of the year.

After a scoreless first half in which Mount Ida held a 10-7 lead in shots, a flurry of activity saw two goals scored in less than two minutes.

Lasell junior Jonathan Sutton (Orange, Conn.) gave the Lasers the lead when his corner kick caromed off of the Mount Ida defense and past Riley Ford (Guilderland, Conn.) in the 58^th minute.

It was the first goal of the year for Sutton, but it would only provide a short-lived edge for the visitors, who conceded a free kick to Mount Ida just over a minute and a half later. After a touch from junior JT Yager (Ballston Spa, N.Y.), Martinez rifled the ball into the top corner at the far post from 25 yards out to knot the score at a goal apiece.

Martinez's goals were his seventh and eighth of the season, giving him 26 for his career, which ties the Mount Ida school record, equaling the work of Diego Centurion (2001-04).

Opportunities were more plentiful for each team in the second half, with Mount Ida outshooting the Lasers 12-10. Ford made five stops in the second half, en route to a seven save performance, and would save his only test in overtime, off the foot of Lasell sophomore Stephen Blood(Windsor, Conn.).

Colmenares made seven saves in defeat as he ends an impressive Laser career in which he made 75 starts between the pipes. Colmenares was no less impressive in his final performance, stopping point blank shots by Martinez and Alexi Flores (Central Falls, R.I.) in the first half to keep the teams level.

The Mustangs dominated the overtime period with a 7-1 advantage in shots, leading to a 29-18 edge in attempts over the game, coupled with a 10-4 corner kick lead.

Lasell ends their season with a 3-13 record after posting a 3-6 mark in conference play and making the postseason for the ninth consecutive year since joining the GNAC in 2007.