Posted: Nov 10, 2021
Rockville Centre, N.Y. – The No. 3 Molloy men's soccer team advanced to the ECC Final after it played the No. 2 UDC Firebirds to a scoreless draw and won 5-4 in penalty kicks Wednesday evening at John A. Darcy Field. The Lions moved to 9-6-4 overall, while UDC moved to 8-5-4.
How it Happened
- Matt Laya-Vetell created the Lions' first chance in the 19th minute. The freshman made a run down the left side, but his try was stopped by UDC keeper Javier Abadia Torres.
- In the 21st minute, graduate keeper Nick Conklu stopped an opportunity from Joseluiz Avalos.
- The Firebirds outshot Lions 8-1 in the first half, but the match was scoreless after 45 minutes of play.
- Freshman Ollie Murch fired a shot wide in the 64th minute.
- Zouhir Warid turned and directed a shot on goal, which was stopped by Conklun in the 75th minute.
- Conklu made a diving save on Vitor Gomes to keep the match scoreless in the 86th minute.
- UDC outshot Molloy 7-1 in the second stanza.
- In the 92nd minute, Conklu denied a header from Ignacio Pericet off a corner kick.
- Senior Kenneth Garcia had a chance denied in the final seconds of the first extra session.
- Conklu tipped aside a chance from Gomes in the 101st minute.
- Garcia had a shot from inside the box go wide in the 106th minute.
- After 110 minutes, the match went to penalty kicks.
- Senior Oscar Magnusson, graduate student Peter Meyer, and sophomore Jonas Jacobsen all scored, and the kicks were tied at three after four rounds.
- UDC went up 4-3 in the seventh round, but graduate student Danel Calvillo converted to even the score, 4-4.
- Conklu made a save in the eighth round, and junior J.P. Rodriguez scored to clinch the match for the Lions.
Top Performances
- Conklu made eight saves.
- Garcia led the team with three shots.
Up Next
The Lions travel to play top-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, November 13 in the ECC Final.
Release provided by the Molloy Sports Information Department.
