Men's Soccer fall 4-3 in Penalty Kicks in YSCC play-off game

Randolph Center, VT – The Vermont Tech Men's Soccer team played to a 1-1 double overtime draw against Paul Smith's College in Tuesday's YSCC play-off game before falling 4-3 on penalty kicks.

The first half was a fairly even match as Paul Smith's edged Vermont Tech 7 to 6 in shots. In the 20^th minute Yohan Avila (Barre, VT) delivered a great through ball to Jonquin Currier-Cubero ( Danville, VT) to run on to for the shot but a diving save from Paul Smith's Keeper Ryan Little kept the score at 0-0. Seconds later the Bobcats wear able to counter attack on the pitch when Alex Roache took a solid shot from 20 yards out, but the ball deflected off the post.

The Green Knights came out strong in the second half, out shooting the Bobcats 3-1 by the 60^th minute.

Vermont Tech had the first chance to pull ahead  in the 59^th minute with an indirect kick 20 yards out. Yohan Avila (Barre, VT) passed the ball to Matthew Brien (Colchester, VT) who was able to get a shot off that bounced off the far post for Houston Cote (Bristol, VT) who finished with a shot into the net. The goal was called back for offsides.  

Four minutes later in the 63^rd minute Paul Smith's was able to put up the first goal of the game. Taylor Young delivered a cross ball into the box off a corner kick and found Tyler Hollerer unmarked on the farpost, who headed the ball in the back of the net past Darian Calverley (Attaboro, MA).

The Green Knights went on the attack in the 68^th minute. Avila sent a ball over the top of Paul Smith's defense to Currier-Cubero, who pulled a quick move to beat the keeper Little, but then Little held Currier-Cubero causing a foul to be called in the box. Brien calmly stepped up to take the penalty kick and hit a low solid shot past Little to tie it up 1-1 to send the game in to overtime.

The overtime proved to be even throughout as neither team could consistently penetrate one another's defense. Paul Smith's held a slight 15-14 advantage on shots, but was unable to capitalize in the overtime as the match was sent into penalty kicks.

Little made 9 saves for Paul Smith's College who will play on Saturday in the YSCC Final Four; Calverley made 7 saves for the 8-9-1 Vermont Tech Green Knights.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Max Calderone's family and friends as both teams respected a moment of silence for a fallen player, teammate, and competitor before the start of the game. A memorial service will take place at 4:00pm Wednesday at Paul Smith's College Campus.