BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Mattheus Silva (Acton, Mass.) scored in overtime to lift fifth-seeded Saint Joseph's College (8-2-8) past top-seeded Emmanuel College (11-6-3), 2-1, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Men's Soccer Tournament semifinal at Roberto Clemente Field on Wednesday evening.
PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS:
Saint Joseph's will host seventh-seeded Norwich University in the GNAC Championship on Saturday, November 7, at the SJC Athletics Complex, with the start time to be announced. The Monks return to the title game for the first time since capturing their seventh conference championship in 2021 after ending Emmanuel's eight-game winning streak Wednesday. Norwich stunned third-seeded Rivier University, 4-1, in the other semifinal earlier this evening. Saturday's winner earns the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Silva delivered the deciding play at 95:36, carrying the ball on a long run from midfield before sidestepping a defender and steering a shot from a tight angle between the near post and Emmanuel goalkeeper Ivan Gonzalez.
The Monks opened the scoring just eight minutes into the contest, when freshman Damir Brkic (South Portland, Maine) finished a pass from junior Nick Marion (Windham, Maine) to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Emmanuel answered at 11:12 with an unassisted Justin Soto goal.
The Saints held an 8-3 advantage in first-half shots, but senior goalkeeper Alex Bachmann (Scarborough, Maine) denied Benjamin Anderson in the 21st minute. Emmanuel's Thomas Kamberidis struck the post at 40:34, and the teams entered halftime tied, 1-1.
Saint Joseph's generated more pressure after the break, putting four shots on target during an evenly matched second half. Gonzalez stopped attempts by seniors Patricio Mowa (Luanda, Angola), Aidan Sugrue (Spring Lake Heights, N.J.), and Cole Bishop (Gorham, Maine), while Bachmann turned away two Rafael Matamoros bids to help force overtime.
Marion tested Gonzalez at 91:32 before Silva broke through just over four minutes later to send the Monks into the championship game.
TEAM STATS:
Emmanuel held the advantage in shots (16-13) and corner kicks (8-3), while Saint Joseph's maintained a 7-4 edge in shots on goal.
THE KEEPERS:
Bachmann made three saves over 95:36 for the Monks, while Gonzalez recorded five stops for the Saints.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
Saint Joseph's improved to 17-4-3 all-time against Emmanuel after the teams played to a scoreless draw during the regular season.
