Stevens valiant comeback falls just short against No. 9 Messiah
Charles O'Brien
GRANTHAM, Pa. (November 18, 2017) – Junior Nikolai Figueroa's well-placed header was secured by Connor Bell with time expiring as the Stevens Institute of Technology's men's soccer team's brilliant NCAA Tournament run was ended by No. 9 Messiah College 3-2 Saturday afternoon in the Northeast Sectional Semifinal.
Stevens was in position for the game-tying header after junior Jimmy Doran's unassisted goal in the 88th minute drew the Ducks within one. With just over two minutes left in their season, the feisty Ducks attacked with reckless abandon, earning three corner kicks in the final minute. Junior Daniel Aversano's try with 13 seconds remaining was headed by Figueroa, but the play was read by Bell from start to finish, who used both hands to snag the ball from the air, ending Stevens' 2017 season. The Ducks successfully rallied in the waning minutes in each of its three previous matches. It was Stevens' eighth trip to the Sweet 16, but first since 2012.
After the match was moved to Messiah's turf field just one hour prior to kickoff because a strong and steady rain combined with cold temperatures and wind to make play on the campus' grass pitch unsafe, it was the home team that came out firing early. The Falcons took control of the midfield from the opening whistle and kept Stevens on its heels for the majority of the first half. Messiah finally broke through in the 20th minute when Kirby Robbins converted a penalty kick after a Messiah attacker was wrestled down in the box. Stevens hadn't allowed a first-half goal in its previous four matches.
Messiah extended its lead shortly after halftime. Nick West struck for his 13th goal of the year in the 52nd minute after Colby Thomas played a perfect crossing ball into the box. The two-goal deficit seemed to spark Stevens, who was able to generate a more sustained offense in the second half.
Stevens finally reached the scoreboard in the 69th minute. After a Messiah foul, Aversano found junior midfielder Andrew Masur on the restart and the Bridgewater, New Jersey native buried a shot from just outside the 18 to put the Ducks on the board for his fourth marker of the season.
The momentum from getting on the board would be short lived. Just nine minutes later, Danny Brandt played a long ball to Colby Thomas. The Messiah striker faked an initial shot that drew senior Jacob Coumans of the net. Thomas deftly sidestepped Coumans and buried the ball inside the post for his ninth goal of the season. Coumans, who came on as an injury replacement in the 52nd minute made two saves, but fell to 0-2 on the season. Bell made three saves to earn the win.
Stevens fell to 1-3 all-time against Messiah. The Falcons have claimed victories in the last three meetings, although the programs hadn't met since the 2008 national championship match. Messiah will play Rochester in the sectional final after the Yellowjackets upset Amherst College in the second game of the day.
Inside the Numbers
- Messiah held a decisive 24-13 in shots, including 10-3 in the first half. The Falcons also had a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal.
- In horrendous conditions, each team earned five corners. Stevens took all of its corners in the second half.
- Robbins led all players with five shots. Robbins and Thomas each had two shots on goal to lead all players. Aversano led Stevens with three shots and five Ducks collected a shot on goal.
- West had a wide-open net in the 10th minute, but his attempt rang off the far post.
- Aversao held Stevens' lone quality chance in the first half.
- Masur's four goals mark a career-high. Doran set a new career-high with his second-half score.
From the Sidelines
- "Immensely proud of the performance and effort the guys put it in today against a national powerhouse."
On the Seniors
- "The seniors provided superb leadership to the group this season and they have created an incredible legacy over their four years in the program."
- "They have extremely bright futures ahead of them. Not only were they great soccer players, but they were even better people."