Terriers Clinch First NEC Crown Since 1998
New Britain, CT -- It was a championship 15 years in the making, but it was well worth the wait for the St. Francis Brooklyn faithful. The Terriers twice rallied to tie the game on second half goals from Tournament MVP Kevin Correa (Flushing, NY/Flushing), and junior defender Andy Cormack (Plymouth, EnglandHele's School) scored the golden goal on a free kick seven minutes into the first overtime to give fourth-seeded St. Francis Brooklyn a 3-2 win over third-seeded Bryant in the NEC Men's Soccer final in New Britain, CT on Sunday afternoon.
The goal was the third off a set piece for the Terriers and set up when Terriers' senior forward Gabriel Bagot (New York, NY/Edison Academic Center) was taken down just outside the left corner of the 18-yard box. Cormack calmly stepped up and hit a laser far post that sailed over the outstretched arms of Bryant keeper Chris Knaub (Yarmouth, ME/Yarmouth) into the upper netting.
The title was the first for the St. Francis Brooklyn (12-5-1) program since 1998 and fifth in school history. The Terriers, who will find out their NCAA opponent on Monday at noon on NCAA.com, head into the next phase of the postseason with a 12-5-1 record. Bryant, making its first-ever NEC Tournament appearance, ended the year with a 7-9-2 mark.
Bryant struck first on a counter in the 8th minute when sophomore Marco Addonizio (Lynnfield, MA/Lynnfield) sent a looping ball from midfield to classmate Brett LaRocque (Ottowa, Ontario/Ecole Jean Vanier), who broke past the defense and chipped a one-timer from just inside the box over Terriers' junior keeper Jack Binks (Darlington, England/Hurworth Comprehensive (Siena College)). It was LaRocque's team-leading eighth goal of the season.
Bagot had a chance to even things up after a run down the right flank in the 14th minute but sophomore keeper Chris Knaub (Yarmouth, ME/Yarmouth) made a sprawling save for the Bulldogs. Two minutes later Knaub was up to the task again, diving to his right to stop a hard, low shot by Terrier senior midfielder James Caicedo (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Ford).
The Terriers outshot the Bulldogs by a 7-6 margin in the first half and had four shots on goal, compared to three for the Bulldogs.
It took St. Francis Brooklyn all of two minutes in the second half to net the equalizer when Correa bent in a left-footed free kick from just outside the top of the box, his 12th goal of the season.
Just 1:07 later, Bryant regained the lead as LaRocque fought off two defenders near the end line and centered to Lucas Guerriero (Pickering, Ontario/St. Mary Catholic), who tapped the ball past a prone Binks.
Correa, a junior forward, let one fly from 30 yards out with 22 minutes to play, but Knaub was able to punch the rocket shot to safety. One minute later Correa's header from close range was again turned away by Knaub.
But Correa was not to be denied in the 70th minute, converting his second free kick of the game. Situated five yards outside the box, the Flushing, NY native scored his fourth goal of the NEC Tournament when his shot deflected off a Bryant defender and snuck into the left corner of the net to even the game at 2-2.
Bryant's Connor Norat (Wilmington, DE/Salesianum School) had an opportunity in the 72nd minute, but his header off Shane Murphy's (Kennet Square, PA/Unionville) long free kick went wide.
Bagot had a golden opportunity in the 77th minute, finding himself one-on-one with Knaub deep inside the box, but the Bryant keeper made a spectacular save to keep the score level.
Looking for the game-winner with four minutes left on the clock, Correa struck a free kick from 25 yards out that sailed just over the crossbar.
With just seconds remaining in regulation, Terriers' senior defender Larry Lopez (Cypress Hills, NY/Franklin K. Lane) nearly ended the match in memorable fashion, launching a shot from 35-yards out that deflected off the top of the crossbar.
The Terriers enjoyed a 21-13 edge in shots and 11-7 advantage in shots in goal. SFBK also totaled five corners, compared to two for Bryant.
2013 NEC Men's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Kevin Correa, St. Francis Brooklyn (MVP)
Gabriel Bagot, St. Francis Brooklyn
Jack Binks, St. Francis Brooklyn
Andy Cormack, St. Francis Brooklyn
Chris Knaub, Bryant
Brett LaRocque, Bryant
Connor Norat, Bryant
Ben Knight, CCSU
Connor Qualter, CCSU
Nick Kolarac, Saint Francis U
Daniel Valcicak, Saint Francis U
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