Canisius Gets Past Men's Soccer In Overtime

Tuesday, September 19

Piscataway, N.J.

7:00 PM

Rutgers University

1-6-1

Canisius

6-1

OT 1

Canisius

Rutgers

Sep 19 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Erik Sa Penalty Kick Ties Game at 1-1 in Second Half

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – A Canisius golden goal usurped the Rutgers men's soccer team's chance at a comeback on a rainy Tuesday night at Yurcak Field as the Scarlet Knights fell 2-1.

The Scarlet Knights (1-6-1), without the services of forward Ethan Vanacore-Decker due to injury and cards holding out fellow seniors Dante Perez and Ryan Peterson from the lineup, fought back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to tie the game in the 61^st minute.

Canisius (6-1-0) opened scoring with Hunter Walsh putting his squad up with 12 minutes remaining in the first half. Melvin Blair intercepted a clear in Golden Griffin territory just over the midfield line and found Walsh racing along the near sideline. Walsh was able to get out in front to position himself 10 yards out and find the far corner.

Redshirt senior Erik Sa tied the game at 1-1 off a penalty kick in the second half. Redshirt junior Miles Hackett was denied an opportunity at net after entering the left side of the box and having his attempt batted away by the left arm of Canisius' Alex Grattarola.

Rutgers continued to pester the Canisius net for the remainder of regulation outshooting the Golden Griffins, 8-3, during the span.

Canisius goalkeeper Marco Trivellato denied Sa the opportunity to put Rutgers ahead only moments after converting his penalty kick. Brian Hawkins had a takeaway and brought the ball up the near sideline. After dodging two defenders and turning the corner into the box, Hawkins centered the ball to Sa. The Watchung, New Jersey native's one touch shot, however, was knocked away for the Golden Griffin netminder.

The Scarlet Knights managed two more shots on goal with another four attempts blocked inside the 18 as the second half concluded.

It was the Golden Griffins, however, that would reach the back of the net in the first overtime. Canisius gained control of the ball in Scarlet Knight territory and found leading scoring Troy Brady to power down field and fire from 10 yards out with 3:28 left in overtime to extend his team's win streak to a program best six-straight.

"It's incredibly frustrating. We told ourselves not to expose ourselves on the backside of the ball and that they wouldn't hurt us unless they broke out and countered us," said head coach Dan Donigan. "Everything was on our side."

Rutgers and Canisius both registered 15 shots and three corner kicks apiece.

Goalkeeper Rafael Pereira ended the game with six stops. Canisius' Trivellato made four saves.

"Guys need to make plays and make smart decisions. Having two seniors sit out tonight because of cards really hurt us because they had the ability make and be a difference tonight in this game."

"You can make runs, you can do certain things, but there are times when you've got to go into tackles hard, you've got to blow plays up and win the individual battles, times when you need to work back and recover and provide support and help so we don't expose ourselves in the backend of things, but unfortunately it's a learning process. It's another lesson they need to understand. You have to be able to rally back."

The Rutgers men's soccer team hits the road for its next two games with a Big Ten matchup at No. 2 Indiana on Friday, Sept. 22 and traveling to in-state rival Princeton on Tuesday, Sept. 26.

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersMensSoccer) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/RUMensSoccer) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.

-RU-