BANGOR, Maine – New England College (NEC) has advanced to the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) semifinals as the Pilgrims tied Husson University, 2-2, and prevailed 4-3 in penalty kicks on Sunday evening at Boucher Field in a NAC Quarterfinal game.
New England College (11-7-1) jumped out to an early lead when Sina Samali sent a ball into the box that Camille Sheehan shot into the back of the net to put the Pilgrims up 1-0 in the 22nd minute, but Josh Bean answered right back 28 seconds later from 50-yards out to tie the game at 1-1.
Phil Frost gave Husson (8-6-2) their first lead in the 40th minute on his 12th goal on season
from three yards out after Rod Ghanayem shot deflected off the Pilgrims keeper Dylan Mix. The Eagles took a 2-1 lead into intermission.
In the 53rd minute, Ronsard Masamba received a diagonal pass from Nathan Sprackland which he shot it pass Husson's goalie Cody Cross to tie the game at 2-2.
Both defenses turned up the pressure from this point on, as the game went scoreless for the next 37 minutes of regulation.
Neither team would be able to grab a goal in either overtime forcing penalty kicks. The Eagles had their first two penalty kicks saved by Mix and the Pilgrims took advantage by sinking in their first three penalty kicks. With the NEC leading 3-2, Cam Libby fired his shot by pass Mix to tie the penalty kicks at three all, but NEC's Conor Dunglass would sink the game-winner on the every next penalty kick.
"Great game tonight, we lost in penalties and penalties as always are crap shoot, but the guy's just played a fantastic match and did everything they could get it settled before penalties and unfortunately that wasn't the case," said Head Coach Jeff Gettler.
The Eagles held the shot advantage in the contest overall 32-16 and Frost had a game-high nine shots.
Mix played the first 45 minutes in the net for the Pilgrims making five saves before Tenzin Khenrab took over in second half and played the last 65 minutes stopping all 11 shots he faced. Gross played all 110 minutes and record five saves for the Eagles.
"Just an outstanding group of young man, I've had to work with this year led mostly especially by my seniors, all five of them, Frost, Perkins, Berenyi, Libbey, and Curtis. Every one of them has been outstanding this year and lead the team through the whole season and done an unbelievable job," Gettler slated. "I know everybody's tremendously disappointed with the results, but the guys couldn't have given more tonight and again no coach could ever ask for more than this team has given this year. I'm just so proud of them."
New England College will travel to take on top-seeded Thomas College on Wednesday, November 4 in the NAC Semifinals. With the tie the Eagles close out the 2015 campaign.
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