Springfield, Mass. –
Emerson Kekesi recorded a goal and an assist as the Stevens Institute of Technology men's soccer team remained unbeaten with a 3-1 victory over Springfield College on Tuesday evening.
Matthew Murillo and
Omar Martinez also found the back of the net for the Ducks (4-0-1), while
Luke Carey added an assist.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Kekesi registered the first attempt of the contest in the fifth minute, sending a shot wide right, before Springfield generated the next two chances.
Bobby Boyke turned away an attempt in the 13th minute, but Springfield converted on the ensuing opportunity to take a 1-0 lead at the 12:34 mark. The Ducks needed less than five minutes to respond. Kekesi set up Murillo at 17:01, with Murillo converting his first goal of the season to pull Stevens even at one. Boyke made another save less than a minute later to preserve the tie.
Stevens continued to generate chances as the opening half progressed. Kekesi recorded attempts in the 23rd and 25th minutes before
Joseph Conte and
Francesco Bonavita each sent shots wide. Boyke made his third save of the half in the 34th minute, while Stevens earned its first corner shortly afterward.
Dylan Falcone and Martinez added attempts over the final five minutes as the teams entered halftime tied 1-1.
Springfield generated the first three attempts of the second half, but Stevens responded by taking its first lead of the evening in the 53rd minute. Carey set up Kekesi, who buried his fourth goal of the season at 52:27 to give the Ducks a 2-1 advantage. Stevens doubled the margin just 2:38 later. Martinez found the back of the net at 55:05 for his first goal of the season, pushing the Ducks ahead 3-1. The goal capped a stretch in which Stevens scored three unanswered after falling behind early in the opening half.
Boyke and the Stevens defense protected the two-goal advantage from there. Springfield earned three corner kicks in a span of just over two minutes before Boyke made a save in the 61st minute. Stevens continued to create opportunities at the other end, with Carey and Murillo recording attempts in the 76th and 77th minutes, respectively, before Martinez added another chance in the 80th. Falcone recorded the final Stevens attempt in the 83rd minute as the Ducks closed out the 3-1 victory and extended their unbeaten start to five matches.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Stevens finished with a 14-12 advantage in shots, recording eight attempts in the opening half and six in the second.
- Kekesi paced the Stevens attack with four shots while contributing three points on a goal and an assist.
- Murillo finished with a goal on two attempts, while Martinez scored once on three shots. Carey recorded an assist and added one attempt.
- Boyke played all 90 minutes between the posts, making five saves while allowing one goal to earn the victory.
UP NEXT
The Ducks return home on Saturday, hosting NYU at the DeBaun Athletic Complex at 5:00 pm.
