Men’s Soccer moves on to CCC Championship with overtime win

Box Score WENHAM, Mass. — A goal by Jesse DiPietro (Woodbridge, Conn.) two minutes into the first overtime period broke a 1-1 tie, as the Roger Williams University Men's Soccer team upset No. 11 Gordon in the CCC Semifinals.

For 60 minutes of play, Gordon and Roger Williams exchanged blows, but with no results to show for their numerous opportunities. The two teams both had five shots on goal in the first half, but outstanding play by both keepers kept the game scoreless at the halftime break.

A physical battle ensued for the first 17 minutes of the second half when the Scots created another opportunity to score. Caleb Cole (Coatesville, Pa.) took possession of a clear and sprinted through the seam, splitting two Hawks' defenders in the process. Cole chipped a well-placed ball into the 18-yard box, allowing CCC leading scorer Andrew Vandervoort (Memphis, Tenn.) to run onto the ball.

Vandervoort snuck past his defender and volleyed the pass over the glove of Jon Pelloso (Wilbraham, Mass.) for the first score of the game.

The Scots' lead was short-lived, as the Hawks countered with a strong attack of their own, only a minute later. Roger Williams brought the ball down the right side of the field, getting all the way down to the touchline before centering a pass. The ball took a weird hop—bouncing off of four different players—until Andrew Carlson (Ridgefield, Conn.) poked the ball past a jumbled Scots' defense for the equalizer.

Gordon and Roger Williams traded heart-stopping looks at the net, but the two teams failed to capitalize and headed to overtime tied at one goal a side.

The Hawks pressured the Scots' defense right away, sending the ball into the left corner of the field. Gordon looked to have control of the ball for a clear, but a missed communication left the ball sitting directly in the middle of the field.

DiPietro was the recipient of the lucky bounce, as he found himself only yards away from the goal with one man to beat. DiPietro kept his composure and firmly struck the ball just inside the right post for the game-winning score. It was just his second goal of the season and it could not have come at a better time for the fourth-seeded Hawks.

Roger Williams (15-4-1) moves on to play Western New England in Springfield with the CCC Championship trophy on the line. That game begins Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Gordon—ranked third in the latest New England poll—will have to wait for the National Selection Committee to decide their fate regarding a NCAA Tournament bid. The Scots currently sit at 18-2-0.

- Release courtesy of the Gordon College Sports Information Department

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Players Mentioned

#11 Andrew Carlson: F; 5' 11"; Junior

#23 Jesse DiPietro: MF; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#1 Jon Pelloso: GK; 5' 11"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#11 Andrew Carlson
: 5' 11"; Junior
: F

#23 Jesse DiPietro
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: MF

#1 Jon Pelloso
: 5' 11"; Senior
: GK

Players Mentioned

#11 Andrew Carlson

#23 Jesse DiPietro

#1 Jon Pelloso

Players Mentioned

#11 Andrew Carlson

#23 Jesse DiPietro

#1 Jon Pelloso