Christian Diaz Caps Men's Soccer 2-1 Comeback Win Over Saint Anselm
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 24, 2013) – Sophomore Christian Diaz (Watsonville, Calif. / Univ. of Vermont) completed the rally with a game-winning goal in the 85th minute to propel the Mercy College men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Saint Anselm College on Thursday afternoon.
Mercy improves to 9-3-2 overall while Saint Anselm drops to 2-11.
Sophomore Juan Gatti (New Rochelle, N.Y. / Monroe CC) equalized for Mercy in the 75th minute after the Mavericks had gone down on a first half score. Senior Ransmond Aboagye (Bronx, N.Y. / Borough of Manhattan CC) sent a through ball into the penalty box for Gatti to run onto and the sophomore banked it off the right post for his first career goal. Diaz came up with the crucial late strike after some impressive work by junior Chuong Tran (West Nyack, N.Y. / Rockland CC) to split a pair of defenders before touching the ball to the former ECC scoring leader, who unleashed a curling rocket past the stunned goalkeeper into the center of the net.
Mercy edged out Saint Anselm in the major statistical categories, leading 20-11 in total shots (8-3 on goal) and 9-4 on corner kicks, while committing just seven fouls to the Hawks' nine.
The Mavericks took some time to get going but before long were in complete control, forcing two saves of senior goalkeeper Mark Kotsopoulos and peppering the goal with a series of other close chances in the first half. The Hawks would get on the score board first, however, as senior Bruno Dasilva got the ball on the left side of the penalty box and sent a cross to classmate George Lamptey, who was alone at the back post and chipped a shot off the crossbar for the 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute.
Mercy responded immediately, winning a corner and firing a pair of shots that were just blocked, including an incredible acrobatic side-kick by Diaz. The Mavericks would win a total of four corners and get off three shots in the final four minutes of the half, but could only force one save before heading into the break.
Each team had a chance saved early in the second half, but again Mercy built up control of the game and finally got on the board thanks to Gatti and Aboagye in the 75th minute. It was all Mercy from that point on and after Diaz blasted home the go-ahead score, the Mavericks registered their ninth victory of the season.
Head Coach Chris Smith and the Mavericks (9-3-2 overall, 3-2-1 in conference) will head out to Long Island for an East Coast Conference matchup with the No. 1 LIU Post Pioneers (14-1, 7-0) at 2:30 p.m. The game will be available online via Live Stats, which can be accessed through the men's soccer schedule page.
