Men's Soccer 9/4/2014 8:05:00 PM

Men’s Soccer nets 1-0 win over Mount Ida

Box Score BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Men's Soccer team picked up its second win of the season Thursday evening with a 1-0 victory over Mount Ida College.

Early on in the contest, Roger Williams kept the offensive pressure on the Mustangs, putting up five shots in the first ten minutes of the game. However, Mount Ida's defense was able to put bodies on the Hawk forwards, making the shots more difficult.

The Hawks had a few close calls in the beginning part of the game. In the 11th minute, Tyler Peckham threaded a nice pass up the middle to James Sheldon (Amherst, N.H.), who got ahead of the Mustang defense. With Mount Ida's defenders on his tail, Sheldon put up a shot that sailed wide right.

Later in the half, the Hawks' Dan Kelly (Miller Place, N.Y.) and Jesse DiPietro (Woodbridge, Conn.) had back-to-back shots on a ball in the box off a corner kick but could not convert.

The Hawks nearly scored in the 35th minute on a misplayed ball. Mount Ida keeper Mat Pils (Monroe, Conn.) tried to kick out a long pass before the Hawks could get to the ball, but shanked the ball. With the goal unguarded by the keeper, Sheldon tried to take advantage and sent a shot towards the net but hooked the ball wide.

Though Mount Ida was unable to keep the Hawks out of the scoring area, the defense continued to hold off RWU from scoring. Despite being outshot, 16-4 in the period, the Mustangs only allowed four shots on goal.

Yet, the Hawk perseverance paid off in the 49th minute. Sheldon served up a cross by the left corner flag into the box to Kelly, who was able to outjump a Mustang defender and deliver a header into the right corner of the goal for his first score of the year.

Kelly nearly added another score in the 54th minute with a header towards an open left corner, but A.J. Ricketts (Nantucket, Mass.) sacrificed his body to make a heads-up defensive save. Though he unfortunately needed to be helped off the field after the contact, his valiant heads-up play kept the Mustang deficit to one.

Three minutes later, Pils made a great jumping one-handed save to his right on a long shot by Cooper Allebrand (Santa Barbara, Calif.)

Mount Ida continued to push forward but was unable to get good looks offensively. Carlos Martinez (West Hartford, Conn.) had a shot attempt on a free kick blocked by a wall of Hawk defenders with five minutes to play, which would be the last strong opportunity for the Mustangs to score.

Tom Mangels (Garden City, N.Y.) needed only one save in the shutout, while Pils had seven saves for Mount Ida in the loss.

Roger Williams (2-1-0) continues its five-game homestand Saturday against Rhode Island College, while Mount Ida (2-1-0) hosts Babson on Wednesday.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#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

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

#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