Burlington, Vt. ? The Stony Brook men’s soccer team advance to the America East Semifinals with a 5-4 edge in penalty kicks after the Seawolves and Vermont played to a 1-1 draw at Centennial Field.
Vermont jumped out to an early lead in the first half, as senior Tony Anderson finished a corner coming off the foot of fellow classmate Joey Gislason (2:30) into the half. The rest of the first half would remain scoreless, though Stony Brook did have its opportunities at evening up the score. The Seawolves best look at the goal came with 11 minutes remaining in the half, as junior Chris Scarpati’s shot hit the left post. The Seawolves evened the score in the 60th minute (60:24), when senior Forward Anthony Barberio blasted a shot past Vermont goalkeeper David Sullivan to knot up the score, 1-1.
Vermont, 9-5-5, 4-3-2, held a 24-18 edge in shots through 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute, sudden death overtimes. But credit Seawolves Goalkeeper John Moschella, who made seven saves to the game even and force penalty kicks.
During the penalty kick session, the first three players from each team converted their shots. Anderson, Matt Chew and Travis Owen scored for Vermont, while Barberio, Dan Cukar, and Mike Salvador all sank their shots to keep the score tied at three. Following a high shot and a ball shot off the left post by Vermont’s Joey Gislason and Stony Brook’s Chris Megaloudis, respectively, the Catamount’s Chris Scherbal gave UVM the 4-3 edge. Stony Brook’s would tie it up as Chris Scarpati shot one past the Vermont keeper. Following a Moschella save off the foot of Vermont’s Neil Beasley, the Seawolves Rob Fucci beat Sullivan to give Stony Brook the 5-4 lead, and the right to move onto the semifinals.
The Seawolves advance to the semifinals for the first time in school history. Stony Brook improves to (11-5-2) and will take on No. 1 seed Boston University at Nickerson Field on Wednesday, November 10, at 7 p.m.
The America East champion earns the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championships.
Scoring
Stony Brook: Anthony Barberio (unassisted), 60:24
Vermont: Tony Anderson (Joey Gislason), 2:30
Shots
Stony Brook: 18
Vermont: 24
Saves
Stony Brook: John Moschella (110:00, 7 saves)
Vermont: David Sullivan (110:00, 5 saves)