Gulls Drop Heartbreaker to Pride

Springfield, Mass. - September 23, 2012 - Joe LaBella's (Wethersfield, Conn.) game-winner in the 109th minute lifted the Springfield College men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Endicott College in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon.

The win snaps the Pride's four-game losing skid, boosting its overall record to 2-7. The loss drops Endicott's record to 4-4-2.

LaBella struck for the game winner with just 1:46 left in the second overtime session. The sophomore took a feed from Drew Sommer (West Chester, Penn.) off the left side of the box and one-timed a shot from six yards out into the back of the net, sending the Springfield faithful into an uproar.

The Pride opened up the scoring in the 54th minute off a strike from Danny Amato (Newington, Conn.). Scott Saucier (Derry, N.H.) started the play off with a feed to Alex Reilly (Ledyard, Conn.), who fired a cross from the top right of the box to Amato. The junior made no mistake as he slotted a shot into the left side past Endicott goalie Austin Peluso (Farmington, Conn.).

Endicott netted the equalizer in the 78th minute. Off a Justin Lavallee (Wrentham, Mass.) corner kick, Alex Jorge (Billerica, Mass.) was able to connect for a goal, heading the ball into the top left corner.

Springfield nearly put the game away in the first overtime if not for the terrific defensive effort by Endicott's Kevin Gnecco (North Hampton, N.H.). Kevin Nowak (Plainsboro, N.J.) got free on a breakaway and was streaking towards goal, but Gnecco broke up the play from behind, setting up LaBella's heroics.

Brett Bascom (New London, N.H.) played the first half between the pipes for the Pride, before Chris Walton (Cromwell, Conn.) finished out the game with one save to earn the victory. Austin Peluso totaled seven saves in the loss.

For the game, Springfield owned a 15-8 advantage in shots, and an 11-2 cushion in corner kicks.

The Gulls host Westfield State on Wednesday at 7:00 pm.

The Pride will travel to play Eastern Nazarene on Wednesday. Kick-off is slated for 3:30 pm.