DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – Connor Murray scored a
pair of goals, including the game-winning tally with 5:20
remaining, and Southern Vermont College withstood a furious
Delaware Valley College rally in the final minute to hold on for a
3-2 victory and the 2010 DVC Soccer Classic championship.
Both teams entered the pre-determined match-up with a chance at the
title as both teams were victorious on Saturday (Southern Vermont
1-0 over Juniata; Delaware Valley 2-0 over Rosemont). The game
played out that way as the Mountaineers held 1-0 and 2-1 lead
before the Aggies tied it up each time.
With overtime looming, Southern Vermont had an opportunity near the
Delaware Valley goal. Cohen Bond went to take a shot, but only got
a piece of the ball. However, it rolled to Murray and he put it
past Aggie goalkeeper Tristan Preece for the 3-2 advantage. Murray
was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
Delaware Valley put the pressure on at the end, but Southern
Vermont goalkeeper Aaron Eschler made a pair of outstanding saves
to preserve the win and the tournament title.
Nick Haggerty opened the scoring for the Mountaineers as he scored
off a rebound with Brett Clatworthy picking up the assist. The
tally came 25 minutes into the contest and was the lone goal of the
first half.
Delaware Valley’s Tom Antonucci tied it up 19 minutes into
the second stanza as the senior forward took a long feed from Joey
Ordile and beat Eschler. It was the 20th goal in Antonucci’s
21-game career with the Aggies and tied him for fourth place on the
school’s all-time list.
Southern Vermont regained the lead as Murray got free for a
breakaway and scored with 18:27 remaining. Back came Delaware
Valley and, three minutes later, Antonucci threaded a pass to James
Fay, who beat Eschler from just inside the box for a 2-2 score.
However, Murray’s late-game heroics gave the Mountaineers the
win.
Delaware Valley held a 13-10 advantage in shots and a 13-1
advantage in corners. Preece made five saves while Eschler had
six.
The Aggies finished in third place as Juniata posted a 4-0 shutout
over Rosemont in Sunday’s second game. Delaware Valley and
Juniata each went 1-1 over the weekend, but the Eagles had a better
goals differential to earn the runner-up spot.
2010 DVC SOCCER CLASSIC
First Place: Southern Vermont 2-0
Second Place: Juniata 1-1
Third Place: Delaware Valley 1-1
Fourth Place: Rosemont 0-2
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Connor Murray, Southern Vermont (MVP)
Aaron Eschler, Southern Vermont
Nick Haggerty, Southern Vermont
Noah Massucci, Southern Vermont
Evan Decker, Juniata
Chad Kohr, Juniata
Luke Waddell, Juniata
Josh Burnside, Delaware Valley
Joey Ordile, Delaware Valley
Ryan Hartzell, Rosemont