Box Score
MIDDLEBURY, VT. – A goal with just 55 seconds to play in regulation gave host Middlebury (15-3-1) a 2-1 victory against William Paterson (14-4-3) Nov. 14 in the second round of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament.
William Paterson had a slight advantage in the first half, holding a 5-1 lead in shots. The Pioneers had a few quality chances during the first 13 minutes, but Middlebury keeper Tim Cahill kept them off the board. The first came 8:08 into the contest, when senior
Ryan Miller's (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) shot deflected off a Middlebury defender and was saved before being cleared away. Freshman
Mike Lowe (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. duPont) broke in all alone at the 13:30 mark, but Cahill came off his line to make a sliding save and keep the match scoreless.
Three minutes later, Middlebury had a chance on a corner kick, but William Paterson keeper
Zach Collins (Bayville, N.J./Central Regional) made a save through traffic on Alex Colucci.
With 3:43 left in the first half, the Pioneers took a 1-0 lead on the third goal of the season from Miller. New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Defensive Player of the Year
Chris Belan (Howell, N.J./Freehold Twp.) crossed the ball from the left side, and Cahill briefly deflected it, but Miller was there to finish the loose ball.
Middlebury tied the match in the second half, with Brett Brazier netting his third of the year at the 53:37 mark. Jake Edwards made a quick crossing pass from the right side, and Brazier redirected it into the back of the net to knot the score at 1-1.
The Panthers had an advantage in play for the next 20 minutes before William Paterson came back strong. Freshman
Kene Eze (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) looked to put the Pioneers back on top at in the 69th minute, driving in from the right side. Cahill came out to challenge and was forced to dive back to his right to make a save. Freshman
Matt Nigro's (Morganville, N.J./Marlboro) shot went just high in the 75th minute after beating a defender, before the Panthers began to challenge with a few opportunities of their own.
The game winner came with less than a minute to play, when Brazier dribbled to the net from the right goal line. He quickly made a firm centering pass to Tyler Macnee from 15 yards away, and the junior buried the shot for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.
William Paterson held an 11-7 shots advantage in the game, while Middlebury led 9-2 in corner kicks. Cahill finished with five saves to earn the win, and Collins made three stops for the Pioneers.
