Regis Men’s Soccer Opens Season with Overtime Victory, 1-0

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – After 90 minutes of scoreless play, the Regis College men's soccer team controlled the action in the first overtime period, eventually drawing a penalty kick and converting it to defeat Lesley University, 1-0, Sunday afternoon in a non-conference collegiate match at Franke Field.

The Pride advanced the ball into their offensive zone early in the extra session, but shots by Ken Niyonzima (Dracut, Mass.) and Cesar Da Silva (Boca Raton, Fla.) were turned away by Lesley goalie David Crutchfield. In the 94^th minute, Regis went on the attack again, and one of the Pride forwards was taken down by Jack Wadleigh in the box, leading to a penalty kick opportunity. Derek Triana (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) converted on that chance for his second career penalty kick goal, ending the match in Regis's favor.

Lesley (0-1) enjoyed the first serious scoring opportunity right off the opening kickoff, but Beowulf Urban's shot hit the crossbar. Regis controlled the possession in the next 20 minutes of play, drawing five corner kick opportunities, but the Pride could not complete those scoring chances, keeping the contest scoreless.

Triana earned a chance to score late in the first half, but Crutchfield made the save and started a Lesley counterattack. Regis keeper Jesse Bonilla (Ramona, Calif.) was up to the task, turning away Andrew Medeiros's shot with less than two minutes remaining in the first half to maintain a 0-0 tie at halftime.

Play went back and forth in the second half, and then each team created their best scoring opportunity after halftime, starting with another corner kick opportunity for the Pride. Natale Arini (Plainville, Conn.) sent the corner kick into the box, where Brendan Plasczynski (Bristol, Conn.) dove for a header that sailed just wide. Lesley quickly responded with a counterattack, but Bonilla was able to dive and swat away Medeiros's shot.

The Pride came right back with another advance, but this time it was Crutchfield who made the diving save on a solid shot by Triana with 10 minutes remaining in regulation. In the final minutes, Triana had another opportunity on a seemingly open net, but Tyler Gomes blocked the shot before it traveled over the goal line, eventually leading to the overtime period.

Bonilla finished with five saves as he picked up the shutout victory, while Crutchfield took the loss despite making nine saves. Regis outshot Lesley, 17-9, and finished with 10 corner kick chances while Lesley was held to three corner kick opportunities.

Regis (1-0) will open its home slate this Wednesday, Sept. 5, against Eastern Nazarene beginning at 4 p.m. at Regis Stadium. The Pride will not play at home again for three weeks, with five road conference contests in a row on the schedule.