Beverly, Mass. – Bryan Lee (Rockport, Mass.) flicked a shot on goal with 0.4 seconds remaining in double-overtime that snuck past the Curry goalkeeper and lifted Endicott to a wild 2-1 men’s soccer win on Wednesday night. The Gulls improve to 4-7-1 overall and 4-4 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) with the thrilling victory. Curry falls to 6-9 overall and 3-6 in league play.
The Gulls earned a throw-in from ten yards shy of midfield with just five seconds remaining in the second overtime period. Freshman Bobby Durben (Stow, Mass.) heaved the ball towards the top of the box, where sophomore midfielder Robbie DiTommaso (Farmington, Conn.) skipped the ball towards net with his head. Lee was first to the ball five yards from the goal line and got just enough of it with his foot to slip it past Curry’s Brian Newsome (Lawrenceville, N.J.) and win the game in dramatic fashion. The goal set off a team-wide celebration on the field.
The Colonels’ Michael Griffin (Dalton, Mass.) opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. The junior defender headed a corner kick on goal that was blocked down by the Endicott defense. The rebound came directly back to Griffin, who gathered himself and placed a shot into the left corner to give Curry a 1-0 lead.
The Gulls picked up the equalizer in the 38th minute on an eerily similar play. Kevin Ivester (Topsfield, Mass.) put a headed shot on goal from the top of the box. The Curry defense deflected the ball into the air back towards Ivester, who headed it over the top of the defense and into the back of the net to knot the game at one goal apiece.
Neither team was able to find the winner in the second half, due in part to some stellar play by both goalkeepers. Newsome made two saves in the second 45:00 while Endicott’s Daniel Higgins (Kingstown, R.I.) recorded four stops.
Through the first 90 minutes, Endicott held a sizable advantage in shots (24-10) and corner kicks (6-2).
In the first overtime period, the Gulls had a pair of early chances narrowly miss. Freshman Dylan Tate (Guilderland, N.Y.) and junior Ryan Coates (Wethersfield, Conn.) both had chances in the first five minutes sail just wide.
Endicott owned the majority of the opportunities in both overtime periods, accounting for ten shots over the extra 20:00. Newsome made five stops during that time.
Lee came forward with nothing to lose in the final five seconds only to play the hero with his first goal of the season.
The win only intensifies the race for the eighth and final spot in the TCCC playoffs. Endicott, with 12 points, sits tied with New England College for the number eight seed. Both teams have four matches left, culminating in a season-ending showdown on October 27 in Beverly which may determine who makes the tournament.
Higgins made four saves, all in the second half, to pick up his third win of the season. Newsome finished with nine stops.
Endicott finished with a 34-11 advantage in shots and a 9-2 lead in corner kicks.
Curry travels to Regis College on Saturday, October 16 for a 4:00 p.m. game.
(Release Courtesy of Endicott Sports Information)
