Box Score
WAYNE, N.J. – Despite trailing by a goal with less than 16 minutes to play, the William Paterson men's soccer team (1-0) fought back to earn a 2-1 victory against Baruch (0-1) in the season opener for both teams Sept. 2 at Pioneer Soccer Park.
Each side had chances to score during the opening moments, as Baruch's Freddy Carrasco-Dance hit the crossbar during the 32nd minute and William Paterson's
Julian Valerio (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) blasted a ball off the post a minute later. The Bearcats would take advantage of a Pioneer miscue during the 37th minute, as Carrasco-Dance ran onto a ball that slipped below the foot of a WP defender, beating Pioneer goalkeeper
Dan Peragallo (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) for the first goal of the night. Junior
Ambrogio Pipitone (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) nearly tied the match with 3:20 remaining in the opening half, but a sliding Bearcat defender knocked the ball off the goal line and kept it a 1-0 score at the break.
After a first period that saw just one card issued, the teams combined for 10 during the second half, including two accumulation reds. Two of Baruch's six yellow cards came into play as the Pioneers used the ensuing possessions to find the back of the net. Just 30 seconds after senior Marcelo Martinez was booked, junior
Ryan Miller (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) flicked a header of an
Andrew Tauriello (Stockton, N.J./Hunterdon Central Regional) throw-in past Baruch keeper Nelson DiBastiano, evening the contest at 1-1 in the 75th minute. Martinez received his second yellow card of the night, and with it an automatic red and ejection, less than three minutes later, and William Paterson used the resulting Valerio free kick to send it into the box to
Joe Strawman (Ringoes, N.J./ Hunterdon Central Regional). Strawman redirected it Pipitone at the left post, and the junior finished the ball for his first goal of the season and the game winner in the 78th minute.
Baruch played a man down until the 82nd minute, when William Paterson's
Chris Belan (Howell, N.J./Freehold Twp.) was issued his second yellow card of the evening and was forced to exit the pitch.
Peragallo was not forced to make a save for the Pioneers while DiBastiano had five for the Bearcats, who were out-shot by a 19-3 count.
William Paterson will return to action Saturday, Sept. 5, facing Staten Island at the Drew Fall Fest at 5:00 p.m.
