Junior Michael Bridges netted the match-winner for his first goal in two seasons for the Skyhawks. PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes. |
Stonehill Edges Saint Rose, 2-1
Bridges second half goal lifts Skyhawks to fifth win
EASTON, Mass. (September 12, 2009) - Stonehill College, ranked ninth in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II East Regional poll, got a goal in each half to claim a 2-1 victory over The College of Saint Rose in Northeast-10 Conference men's soccer action at Skyhawk Field this afternoon.
Junior midfielder Michael Bridges (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich) netted the match-winner 9:13 into the second half when he settled a cross from the left side by classmate Tyler Hebert (Rockland, Mass./Sacred Heart) and scored into an open net for his first goal of the season - and just the second of his collegiate career.
Sophomore Ross McWilliams (Kingston, R.I./South Kingstown) also scored his first goal of the season for Stonehill. Junior Justin Little (South Kortright, N.Y./South Kortright) collected the lone goal for Saint Rose.
Junior Brandon McFarlane (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) made five saves in goal for Stonehill, who also got a pair of key defensive saves from freshman back Kevin Wendth (Slingerlands, N.Y./Bethlehem) in the first half. Sophomore Patrik Ohlsson (Sodertalje, Sweden) finished with four stops in goal for Saint Rose. The Skyhawks finished with a 20-15 advantage in shots for the match, including a 9-4 margin in the second half, but the Golden Knights forced ten corner kicks compared to four for the hosts.
McWilliams opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he collected the ball in the left channel near midfield, turned and fired a 30-yard wonder strike that beat Ohlsson to the upper right corner of the goal. Saint Rose equalized with Little's first goal of year, a drive from the top of the 18 on the left side that beat McFarlane to the left side of the goal.
Stonehill (5-1-0, 1-1-0 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts Southern New Hampshire University, ranked 10th nationally, at 4 p.m. Saint Rose (1-4-0, 0-2-0 NE-10) travels to the University of New Haven on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
