Braccioforte Records First Collegiate Goal as Men's Soccer Travels to LIU Post
Box Score BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Oct. 17, 2015) – Redshirt freshman Steven Braccioforte (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) scored his first collegiate goal in the 69th minute of action as the Mercy College men's soccer team suffered a 6-1 setback to No. 11 LIU Post in East Coast Conference (ECC) action on Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Soccer Park.
The Mavericks (4-8-1, 2-4-1 ECC) have now lost three of their last four games, while the Pioneers (9-1-2, 6-0-0 ECC) remain unbeaten in ECC play.
Redshirt freshman Romello Fraser (Brooklyn, N.Y./School for Human Rights) finished with a team-high two shots on goal and an assist, while redshirt sophomore Daniel Watson (Birmingham, England/Monroe College) and freshman Lucca Lacerda (Passos, Brazil/Monroe College) added a shot on goal apiece. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Julio Sanchez (Henderson, Colo./Otero JC) made six saves in a losing effort.
LIU Post was led by Per Forgaard who ended the contest with a game-high two goals. Goalkeeper Jesper Malmstrom made four saves to earn the win in net.
Mercy faced a difficult task in taking on a nationally ranked LIU Post team that had not lost a game since September 10th, a streak of eight games.
Following a pair of fouls to start the game, the Pioneers got on the board in the 9th minute as Forgaard took a cross from Jason Lampkin and headed the ball inside the near post to put the home team up 1-0.
The Mavericks forced Malmstrom to make his first save of the contest in the 14th minute on a Fraser shot before Sanchez stopped a pair of shots as the teams headed into the 29th minute.
LIU Post added on a goal at the 28:50 mark of the first half as Seb Baxter headed in a ball off a free kick by Tom Bowen to give the Pioneers a 2-0 heading into the intermission.
After holding a 7-4 edge in shots in the first half, the Pioneers came out looking for more and Forgaard netted his second of the game in the 67th minute on a loose ball on top of the box that he ripped inside the near post to stake LIU Post to a 3-0 lead.
Braccioforte gave Mercy an answer in the 69th minute as he provided a diving header inside the far post off a cross from Fraser to make it 3-1.
However, Matias Ruiz answered with a goal in the 72nd minute to make it 4-1 before the Pioneers put goals up in the 84th and 87th minutes to close out the scoring on the day.
LIU Post ended the game with a 19-9 edge in shots and 12-5 advantage in shots on goal.
Head Coach Chris Smith and the Mavericks look to bounce back as they travel to Dowling on Wednesday, October 21st for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Redshirt freshman Steven Braccioforte (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) scored his first collegiate goal in the 69th minute of action as the Mercy College men's soccer team suffered a 6-1 setback to No. 11 LIU Post in East Coast Conference (ECC) action on Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Soccer Park.
