Boxscore

BEVERLY, Mass. - The Endicott men’s soccer team rallied from a one goal halftime deficit to earn a 1-1 tie with visiting Salem State University on Thursday night. The Gulls allowed an early first half goal but responded in the second half with one of their own. Both teams had an opportunity in the final overtime period to walk away with a win, but were forced to settle for a season opening draw.

               

Salem State’s Rafael Santos (East Boston, Mass.) opened the scoring on a failed clear attempt. The Endicott defense tried to get rid of a lobbed pass, only to have the ball carom off a Vikings player and slip past a charging \#Daniel Higgins\# (Kingstown, R.I.). 

               

The Gulls tried to respond as the half began to wind down. Endicott sent a long cross towards the goal, forcing Salem State’s Luis Marques (Fall River, Mass.) to make a play on the ball. The ball came free, and settled on the foot of a charging \#Kevin Ivester\# (Topsfield, Mass.). Ivester’s rebound was denied by a sprawling Marques and eventually cleared by the Vikings defense.

               

With less than one minute to play in the half, \#Chris Serpa\# (Bristol, R.I.) put a perfectly placed free kick on goal. Marques was able to get a hand on the shot and deflect it away.

               

Endicott came out of the second half and put pressure on the Viking’s defensive third. \#Bryan Lee\# (Rockport, Mass.) ripped a shot from just outside the box that was blocked by Marques into a crowd of players. \#Gregory Capece\# (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) fired a half volley on goal, only to have the ball blocked into the air. Capece tried to head the ball into the net, but Marques sent his attempt to the top of the box. Halftime sub \#Robbie DiTommaso\# (Farmington, Conn.) was in the perfect position and rifled a shot into the upper-90, knotting the game at one. 

               

Both midfields continued their strong play in the second half, keeping the ball near the center of the pitch. With less than nine minutes remaining, Lee chipped the Salem State defense and found a streaking \#Jared Rizzo\# (Peabody, Mass.). The ball managed to slip just past Rizzo and into the hands of Marques. 

               

The Vikings’ Scott Hall (Waltham, Mass.) came on in the closing minutes of regulation for Marques, who finished the game with nine saves. 

               

The first overtime saw both defenses hold their ground, determined not to allow a winning goal. Just seconds into the second overtime, it was again Rizzo’s opportunity to steal the win. The junior forward found himself alone at the top of the box and fired a left footed shot towards the goal. Hall couldn’t reach the ball, but was saved by the crossbar. The ball dropped to the turf and was cleared away by the Vikings defense. The Gulls would not threaten again.

               

Salem State’s best chance to score came when Jovan Sempa (Woburn, Mass.) had a shot turned away by Higgins midway through the period. After 110 minutes, the match would end at 1-1.

               

Higgins finished the game with seven saves. Endicott held an advantage in shots (21-16) and corner kicks (8-4). 

               

The Blue and Green will return to action on Labor Day when they travel to Bridgewater State for a noon game. Salem State takes on Gordon in Wenham on the same time.