Junior forward Drew Montano scored twice, including the game-winner in double overtime, in Stonehill's 4-3 win at Saint Michael's this afternoon. Montano leads the Skyhawks and ranks fifth in the NE-10 with 18 points this season.

Skyhawks win second consecutive overtime match, third straight game overall

COLCHESTER, Vt. (October 28, 2014) – Junior forward Drew Montano (Avon, Connecticut/Avon) scored twice as Stonehill College erased a two-goal second half deficit and earned a 4-3, double overtime victory at Saint Michael's College this afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference men's soccer action at Duffy Field.

After Stonehill scored three times in the second half to send the game to overtime, Montano ended the match three minutes into the second extra session with a shot from 15 yards out that deflected off both the crossbar and the post before finding its way into the net. The junior, who tied the game at two with his first goal in the 69^th minute, now leads the Skyhawks and ranks fifth in the NE-10 with 18 points on seven goals and four assists this season.

Just over three minutes into the contest, Saint Michael's got on the board when senior midfielder Simon Rodriguez (Miami, Florida/Felix Varela Senior) found the back of the net for the fourth time this fall. Rodriguez collected a loose ball in the box after the Stonehill defense failed to clear a cross by sophomore back Nolan Villeneuve (Bedford, New Hampshire/Bedford), and placed his shot into the lower left corner of the net for the game's first goal.

The Skyhawks had several scoring chances throughout the half, but the Purple Knights carried their one-goal advantage into the break. Stonehill had five shots on goal to the home team's one in the opening 45 minutes, and also held a 5-0 advantage in corner kick opportunities.

Despite the discrepancy in scoring chances, it was the Purple Knights that struck again early in the second half, netting their second goal on just their second shot on target. Senior forward Colby Ajoku (Weymouth, Massachusetts/BC High) headed a corner kick taken by Rodriguez into the top corner of the net to stake Saint Michael's to a 2-0 lead at the 57:16 mark.

Stonehill finally broke through in the 59^th minute, when senior back Zane Stanton (Dartmouth, Massachusetts/St. Sebastian's) converted his penalty kick opportunity after the Purple Knights were whistled for a foul in the box. Stanton, who had one career goal entering this season, now has two in his last two matches after scoring the game-winner in overtime of Stonehill's 3-2 victory at Assumption College on Saturday.

Senior back Zane Stanton converted his penalty kick opportunity in the 59th minute for his second goal in as many games.

Ten minutes later, Stanton had a hand in the Skyhawks' next goal, as Stonehill tied the score at two with just under 22 minutes remaining in the contest. The senior launched a free kick into the box from near midfield, and classmate Tyler Brondyk (Mansfield, Massachusetts/Mansfield) head flicked the ball to Montano, who finished the play with a shot into the lower left corner of the net.

The back and forth continued in the 74^th minute, as Saint Michael's made good use of another corner kick chance, this time scoring on a header by senior midfielder O.J. Rivas (Miami, Florida/Gulliver Prep) following freshman Jackson Steele's (Swampscott, Massachusetts/Cushing Academy) corner.

Just 17 seconds later, Stonehill equalized for the second time in the half when freshman back Matthew Gallo (Mendham, New Jersey/West Morris Mendham) scored the first goal of his collegiate career from 25 yards out with the help of a feed from junior midfielder R.J. Aprile (Carmel, New York/Kennedy Catholic).

The score would remain tied for the final 16 minutes of regulation and through the first overtime session, before Montano sent the Skyhawks home with their second straight overtime victory and third straight triumph overall at 103:01 of double overtime.

Making his ninth start of the season in net, Stonehill junior goalkeeper Luke Besse (Hamilton, Massachusetts/Hamilton-Wenham Regional) made one save. His counterpart, Saint Michael's senior Nicco Roque (Miami, Florida/Gulliver Prep), stopped ten of the 14 shots that came his way.

This afternoon's contest served as a rematch of the Catholic Cup championship match that was played on September 6^th between these two teams in Colchester. The Purple Knights won that contest 2-0 on goals from Rodriguez and senior midfielder Josh Vlasich (East Kingston, New Hampshire/Exeter).

Stonehill (10-5-1, 8-4-0 NE-10) will be back in action on Saturday afternoon, as the Skyhawks are set to wrap up their regular season slate at home against Le Moyne College on Senior Day. Stonehill, which secured a spot in next week's NE-10 Championship with its overtime win at Assumption, could still potentially host a first round matchup pending results later in the week. Saint Michael's (8-8, 4-8 NE-10) will close out its regular season at home on Friday afternoon against the Greyhounds.

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