Men's soccer scores early, often in win over Bloomfield
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - A change in location worked out well for the American International College men's soccer team, which delighted home fans with a 6-2 win over Bloomfield College on Saturday, September 11.
FAST FACTS:
Final Score: AIC 6, Bloomfield 2
Records: AIC improves to 2-0-1 on the season, while Bloomfield drops to 1-2-0 on the campaign
Location: Ronald J. Abdow Field, Springfield, Massachusetts
KEY STATS:
Bloomfield:
Robert Sparrow: One goal
Matiss Zegele: One goal
Robert Kornel: Loss (1-2-0), 10 saves on 15 shots in 82:12
Iban Echeverria: One goal allowed in 7:48
AIC:
Frans Dao: Two goals
Josip Validzic: Two penalty kick goals
Mathis Pilon St. Louis: One goal, one assist
Jahzion Clarke: One goal
Lucas Morales-Fernandes: Win (2-0-1), two saves
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Yellow Jackets exploded out of the gate and notched the game's first goal quickly as a bid by freshman Niklas Stalzer was stopped by Robert Kornel, and a second change by graduate student Dirk Doppen was turned aside by a defender, but the ball bounced around the box for sophomore Frans Dao, who ultimately potted the opening strike at 7:00 with his first of the year.
- Graduate student Josip Validzic doubled AIC's lead shortly after, cutting into the box and beating a defender, who had to foul him to stop him from getting to the net. The referee pointed to the penalty spot, and the striker blasted the ball low right for his first of the year at 14:10.
- The Yellow Jackets nearly made it 3-0 before the game was 15 minutes old, but a bid by freshman Mathis Pilon St. Louis hit the left post, and Kornel robbed Stalzer on the rebound.
- Bloomfield climbed back into the game, taking advantage of a foul just outside of the box to pot a goal as Robert Sparrow knocked home a loose ball on the left side at 23:54.
- Late in the frame, Stalzer charged into the box in possession and was fouled from behind, and again the referee pointed to the spot. Validzic was called upon to take the kick once more and repeated his opening performance, notching his second of the game and season at 41:30 and sending the Yellow Jackets to the locker room up 3-1.
- AIC wasted no time after the break in adding to the lead, with bids by graduate student Samir Regragui and Stalzer turned back in the first 1:03, before St. Louis dished to the right side for Dao on a three-on-two that Dao snapped back into the left corner of the net for his second of the contest and campaign at 47:47.
- St. Louis then took matters into his own hands just five minutes later, charging in on the Bloomfield right outside back and stripping the ball away before cutting to cage and slotting his second of the year home at 52:44.
- Bloomfield again battled to get a goal, and once more scored directly off a foul near the box, as Matiss Zegele scored on a free kick at 82:12.
- AIC ended the game on a high note, as freshman Jahzion Clarke fired a bid toward target at 89:54 that hit the right side of the net for his first collegiate goal to seal the 6-2 win.
SIX SHOOTER:
- AIC had not scored six goals in a regular season game since 2017; the Yellow Jackets earned a 6-1 win over Saint Anselm College on September 30, 2017.
- That game, and this one, are the only two six-goal performances for the program in Head Coach Luke Perry's tenure at AIC.
- AIC had not had two players with two goals each in a game since 2010, when Sean Stevenson '11 and Thomas Denomme '12 each had a brace against The College of Saint Rose on October 12, 2010.
NEXT UP:
- AIC will finally hit the road for the first time on the season with a trip to Caldwell University on Wednesday, September 15 at 4:00 p.m.