BOSTON, Mass. – Senior midfielder Dan Santacroce's (Northford, Conn.) goal with 3:41 remaining in overtime lifted the Wentworth men's soccer team to its first win of the 2011 season, a 2-1 triumph over Lesley in a non-conference contest played at Sweeney Field.
An evenly played first half saw both teams with chances to break the ice, but neither squad was able to find the back of the net. The Leopards had a slim, 8-7 shot advantage, which included a 2-1 shots on goal advantage.
A minute 40 into the second half the hosts went ahead on a senior midfielder Josh Deschene (Webster, Mass.) penalty kick goal. Junior midfielder Devin Richard (Smithfield, R.I.) was tripped up in the box, leading to Deschene burying the attempt to the lower left side.
With 8:09 remaining the Lynx tied the score on a senior forward Joe Petit (Salem, Mass.) goal. Petit was set up by sophomore forward Ali Sozeri (Istanbul, Turkey), who fed a low pass across the box, which Petit put home to the lower right side.
The Leopards put two shots on goal in the closing minutes of regulation, but junior keeper Nigel Leahy (New Paltz, N.Y.) kept it knotted at a goal apiece.
Both teams had chances early in the extra frame and Santacroce almost won it in the 93rd minute when his shot from just outside the box rattled off the crossbar. At 96:19 he took advantage of a loose ball from 20 yards out and fired a shot to the upper right corner.
Junior John Longo (Needham, Mass.) made four saves for Wentworth, while Leahy turned back six shots for the Lynx. The Leopards held a 22-14 shots advantage for the game.
With the win Wentworth improves to 1-1-1 and opens Commonwealth Coast Conference play on Saturday at Salve Regina. Lesley suffers its first loss of the season (2-1-0) and is at Mass. Maritime Saturday night.
