Milliken's two second-half goals leads Skyhawks

EASTON, Mass. (August 24, 2023) – Junior midfielder Colin Milliken netted two goals in the second half as Stonehill College tied the La Salle University Explorers, 3-3, in a season-opening non-conference men's soccer matchup at Skyhawk Field this afternoon.

Rapoza netted the first goal of the season for the Skyhawks in the Skyhawks draw this afternoon (PHOTO by Andrew Katsampes)

How it Happened

• Sophomore forward Jared Rapoza opened the scoring with a right-footed shot past the diving goalie to give the Skyhawks a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute.
• The Explorers scored a goal of their own in the 38th minute when Giammarco Rodio netted a penalty kick to the top right corner of the net.
• Milliken broke the tie early in the second half, scoring in the 47th minute after a pass from senior forward Jacob Woznicki  set him up for a left-footed shot to the bottom right corner of the net.
• La Salle defender Americo Pereira headed in a goal from deep inside the box in the 57th minute to tie the game 2-2.
• The Skyhawks were able to take the lead once again after Milliken converted on a penalty kick after a takedown occurred in the box resulting in the junior midfielder sending a blast to the top-right corner past the goalkeeper in the 69th minute.
• The game would once again be tied by the Explorers when Pereira found an opening within the box to net a right-footed shot to the bottom left corner of the net in the 77th minute.
• The score would remain knotted up at 3-3 until the final whistle, with neither team able to get a shot on net for the final 23 minutes of action.

Noteworthy

• La Salle was able to defeat Stonehill in Philadelphia, 5-3, in the Skyhawk's first-ever Division I matchup to open last season.

• Milliken celebrates his first of two goals to lead the Skyhawks this afternoon (PHOTO by Andrew Katsampes)

  Milliken made his Division I debut for Stonehill, netting two goals in one half after scoring two goals in two seasons at Division II Southern New Hampshire University.
• Stonehill didn't tally their first tie in their inaugural Division I season in 2022 until October 23 at CCSU.
• The Skyhawks are eligible for the NEC Tournament for the first time this fall.

Up Next

Stonehill (0-0-1, 0-0-0 NEC) returns to action on Sunday, when it visits the University of Rhode Island for a non-conference matchup at 4 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Friday, September 1, as they host Canisius College at Skyhawk Field at 4 p.m.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.