NEWARK, N.J. – William Paterson (14-8-1, 4-5 NJAC) three times fought back to get within a goal, but the Pioneers couldn't overcome host Rutgers-Newark (12-8-1, 4-5 NJAC) in the ECAC Men's Soccer Tournament semifinals, 4-3, Nov. 17.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Rutgers-Newark freshman forward Franco Catania and WP junior goalkeeper Kyle Quigley (Columbus, N.J./Northern Burlington Regional) were in a foot race on a breakaway attempt, but Quigley's clearance attempt ricocheted off a Pioneer defender and toward goal. Catania finished the loose ball for a 1-0 score in the 15th minute.
- A Scarlet Raider shot was blocked but caromed to sophomore forward Ariel Parada, who drilled a volley from the edge of the box into the side netting, making it a 2-0 score 10 minutes later.
- A ball was played from the right side to senior forward Brandon Harley (Pennsauken, N.J./Pennsauken) in the middle of the pitch, and he dropped it off to his left for junior forward Cameron Allen (Old Bridge, N.J./Saint John Vianney). Allen's 20-yard blast found the far side of the frame for a 2-1 margin at the 31:04 mark.
- Freshman midfielder Anthony Oliveira headed in a Breno Lustosa cross at the left post, again pushing it to a two-goal lead for Rutgers-Newark at 3-1 in the 33rd minute.
- Allen struck from distance again, this time from 25 yards out, for a 3-2 score at the 76:26 mark.
- The Scarlet Raiders used a Joe Alba chip into the box and Ahmed Moawad finish near the goal line for a 4-2 lead in the 78th minute.
- WP finished the scoring with 6:38 remaining when senior back Zach Perez (Edison, N.J./Rutgers Prep) played a ball to the back post and junior midfielder Jordan Saling (Haledon, N.J./Paramus Catholic) looped a header into the back of the net.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Allen was named to the ECAC All-Tournament Team.
- Junior Kyle Quigley (Columbus, N.J./Northern Burlington Regional) made one save for the Pioneers.
- WP owned a 17-9 edge on shots
- The Pioneers were the fourth seed in Pod 2 of the ECAC Tournament, while the Scarlet Raiders were the top seed in Pod 3.
- William Paterson was making its second ECAC Tournament semifinal appearance in three years, when the Pioneers fell at Lebanon Valley, 2-1, on a goal in the 86th minute. The 2016 season marked a change in format for the ECAC Tournament, moving from four separate regional championships to a 16-team single bracket.
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