Howard Lifts Falcons to 3-2 OT Victory over Coast Guard

October 13, 2011

Jamal Howard (West Haven, Conn.) scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the Albertus Magnus men's soccer team came from behind to defeat Coast Guard 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action.

Howard's goal in the 92nd minute of play secured the victory for the Falcons as they improve to 12-2 on the year with their 11th straight win.

At the 54:37 mark of the contest, Howard scored his 43rd career goal to become the Albertus Magnus all-time leader in goals scored. He celebrated the feat by scoring his 44th career goal later in the match, which was the game winner.

Coast Guard (4-6-1) took an early 1-0 lead in the 16th minute of play as Brett Godiksen hit the back of the net on a free kick from about 20 yards out. After going into the halftime break with the one-goal lead, the Bears extended their advantage to 2-0 as John Epperly tallied his second goal of the season in the 53rd minute of play.

Less than two minutes later, Howard made history and cut the Bears' lead to one with his 13th goal of the season. The senior finished on a cross into the box from James Lucchesi (Norwalk, Conn.) to put the Falcons within striking distance.

Lucchesi forced the game into overtime as he tied the game at two with his second goal of the season in the 75th minute. Stephen Zapata (Hamden, Conn.) placed a free kick into the keeper's box where Lucchesi chipped the ball in over Richard Burns, who was in net for the Bears.

Howard scored his team-leading 14th goal of the season less than two minutes into the overtime period to give the Falcons their 12th victory of the season. For the senior forward, it was his fifth game-winning goal of the year. Zapata picked up the assist on the play as he now leads the team with 16 in 2011.

Donato Piroscafo (Naugatuck, Conn.) recorded seven saves in his 12th win of the season, while Coast Guard's Burns made eight stops on the afternoon. The Falcons outshot the Bears 25-16 in the contest, while Coast Guard had six corner kicks to the Falcons' four.

Next up for the Falcons is a trip to Boston, Mass. on Saturday, Oct. 15, where they will meet Emmanuel (Mass.) in a 3:00 p.m. GNAC match-up.

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