WORCESTER, Mass. – Sophomore Kevin O’Connell (Basking Ride, N.J.) was able to score on a perfectly placed ball with five minutes left in the second overtime period as the Holy Cross men’s soccer team topped Northeastern, 2-1, at the Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium. With the decision, Holy Cross breaks through for a record of1-6-2 on the season while the Huskies move to a record of5-2-1. The Crusaders have now won five straight match-ups against the Huskies.

The teams played a scoreless first half as a total of five shots were taken, three on the Northeastern side. Sophomore Monty Sanders (Temecula, Calif.) had the best attempt, squaring a ball up on the left side of the net and sailing it just high. Northeastern then connected for the first goal of the game at 58:59, scoring on a miscue by Holy Cross goalkeeper Michael Thompson (Cromwell, Conn.). The Crusaders battled back and tied the game, 1-1, at 65:33 as sophomore Tommy Uttaro (Staten Island, N.Y.) notched his second goal of the season, getting the pass from fellow sophomore Josh Cintas (San Diego, Calif.). Northeastern put together five more shots in regulation, but could not score as the squads headed into overtime.

After a scoreless first overtime period, Holy Cross put on its own offensive pressure, maintaining control of the ball for the first few minutes. The squad found itself in a scramble in front of the net at 104:08 as Cintas and Uttaro made two quick passes to an open O’Connell, who put the ball past Northeastern’s Oliver Blum, combining for the game-winning goal.

Thompson finishes with his first winning decision, improving to1-4-2on the season after making one save in the game. Blum finished the game with three saves and collects a record of4-2-1. The Huskies totaled 13 shots, including two on-goal while the Crusaders had a total of eight shooting opportunities, including five on-goal.

Holy Cross continues Patriot League action this upcoming weekend, hosting Lafayette on Saturday, Oct. 1. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium in Worcester, Mass. 

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