Men's Soccer 8/31/2014 4:24:00 PM

Men’s Soccer finishes runner-up at 2014 Squad Locker Classic

| Box Score 2 BRISTOL, R.I. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute won the 2014 Squad Locker Classic with a 1-0 win over the Roger Williams University Men's Soccer team Sunday afternoon. UMass-Boston claimed third place with a comeback 4-3 win over Thomas College in the Consolation Game.

RPI threatened early in the Championship Game. Paul Lentine (Penfield, N.Y.) served up a corner kick to Esmir Hadzic (Burlington, Vt.), who knocked a header towards the lower right corner of the goal. Hawk keeper Tom Mangels (Garden City, N.Y.) made a diving save, followed by another save off of a Vito Mesiti (Slingerlands, N.Y.).

In the 18th minute, the Hawks' Dan Kelly (Miller Place, N.Y.) slipped a pass from the right to James Sheldon (Amherst, N.H.), who had a great opportunity to give the Hawks the lead. However, his shot caromed off the right post and bounced to Andrew Carlson (Ridgefield, Conn.) whose follow-up attempt hooked wide.

Throughout the half, both teams played aggressively on the defensive end of the ball, denying opportunities to get good looks at shots. Both squads combined for only seven shots total in the period, with only three on net.

The second half continued with more of the same play as the previous period, as Roger Williams and RPI contested passes and free kicks, leaving limited opportunities for an offensive attack.

RPI just missed a golden opportunity to notch the first goal of the game in the 77th minute. Lentine bent a beautiful pass down the left side around a Hawk defender to Nathaniel Gunderson (Olympia, Wash.). Gunderson had the right side of the net wide open but just pushed the shot too far wide.

Then in the 86th minute, the Engineers were able to catch a break. On a free kick from about 30 feet outside the left side of the box, Matt Koziol (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) hooked a shot on net that Mangels was able to get two hands on. Unfortunately for him, the ball bounced off his fingers and trickled into the left corner of the net for the eventual game-winner.

RPI keeper Rob Dewald (Arlington, Va.) finishes the weekend 2-0-0, needing only one save in the win. Mangels took the loss, saving four shots.

In the Consolation Game, Thomas struck first, notching a goal in the 13th minute. Tre Ming (Devonshire, Bermuda) launched a strong pass up the middle between two Beacon backs to Max Hansson (Katrineholm, Sweden), who beat the defense to the ball. He then drove to the left side and fired a shot into the right corner for a 1-0 Terrier lead.

The Beacons returned the favor in the 27th minute. Rolando Barbosa was able to gain possession of the ball in the box and push a short chip over Thomas' keeper for the game-tying score.

In the closing minutes of the half, UMass-Boston came close to going into halftime with the lead. Barbosa took a hard shot from just outside the penalty area. Thomas' Joakim Sternas (Stockholm, Sweden) was able to make a great jumping save, which was almost for naught as his stop glanced off of the top of the cross bar. Marcelo Cunha (Goiania Goias, Brazil) then tried to score on the loose ball but had his shot bounce off the right post.

Thomas needed little time into the second period to regain the lead. Two minutes into the half, Marcus Johnson (Sandy's, Bermuda) sent a short pass to the right to Dakota Duplissie (Hampden, Maine). Duplissie would then deposit the ball into the left corner for the go-ahead goal.

In the 66th minute, London Steede-Jackson (Hamilton Parish, Bermuda) caught the Beacon defense off guard. He faked a pass and went with a short chip to the left corner, sailing the ball over the keeper and in for the goal.

The Thomas defense continued to bend throughout most of the second half, but finally broke in the final eight minutes of the game. After being brought down in the box, Elton Teixeira (Boston, Mass.) converted a penalty kick to bring the Beacons within two. ON the ensuing kick-off, UMass-Boston was able to gain possession, Teixiera gaining possession and bringing the ball to the right side and drilling the game-tying goal.

Two minutes later, Texiera emerged as the hero for the Beacons, maneuvering his way through multiple Terrier defenders to score the game-winning goal with just over six minutes left.

All-Tournament Team

Thomas College – #6 Dakota Duplissie

Thomas College – #10 Tre Ming

University of Massachusetts-Boston - #3 Elton Teixeira

University of Massachusetts-Boston - #20 Arlino Goncalves

Roger Williams University – #9 Tyler Peckham

Roger Williams University – #14 James Sheldon

Roger Williams University – #25 Cooper Allebrand

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – #5 Andrew Gondek

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – #7 Matt Koziol

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – #13 Vito Mesiti

Offensive MVP: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – #10 Matt Carberry

Defensive MVP: – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – #5 Andrew Gondek

Tournament Champions: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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Players Mentioned

#25 Cooper Allebrand: B/MF; 5' 10"; Senior

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

#5 Dan Kelly: F; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#01 Tom Mangels: GK; 6' 2"; Senior

#9 Tyler Peckham: MF/F; 6' 0"; Junior

#14 James Sheldon: F; 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#25 Cooper Allebrand
: 5' 10"; Senior
: B/MF

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

#5 Dan Kelly
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: F

#01 Tom Mangels
: 6' 2"; Senior
: GK

#9 Tyler Peckham
: 6' 0"; Junior
: MF/F

#14 James Sheldon
: 6' 1"; Junior
: F