PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College men's soccer squad opened the home portion of their 2021 schedule in style after the Cardinals put Houghton away on an overtime game winner at Growney Stadium on Thursday afternoon. With the win, the Cardinals improved their abbreviated spring record to 2-0 and forced the Highlanders into their first loss of the season, as they drop to 1-1.
The Cardinals got on the scoreboard first in the affair, just seven minutes before the halftime break. The teams exchanged blows until the Fisher front line interrupted a Houghton clear attempt and
Ben Woolingham poked his opponent's dribble loose, gained possession, and fired a shot from ten yards out that sailed north of the Houghton keeper's reach.
Following the intermission, the Highlanders ate away at the Cardinals defense to finally find a hole in defense and evened the score at one goal apiece, 60 minutes into play.
The two teams' offenses played nearly evenly for the duration of regulation time, with Fisher attempting 15 shots to Houghton's 16. The Cardinals had two advantages given over their opponent, winning a whopping 15 fouls and being awarded five corner kicks over the duration of the first 90 minutes.
With just under three minutes to play in the overtime period, Fisher used their midfield to transition the field to offense and a ball advanced to the far corner of the field fell on the foot of senior
Jeff Meyers. Meyers drilled a cross through the teeth of the opponent's box, which found the head of Woolingham for his second goal of the match, capping off the thrilling ending for the Cardinals.
Fisher keeper
Jadon Schlierf had another impressive showing in goal, making five crucial saves on Houghton's six shots on goal, in the 98-minute affair. He registers his second straight win as a Cardinal, bettering his record in goal to 2-0.
Justin Bonetto and Meyers both led Fisher in shots with five on the night,
Matt Gentile added three, Woolingham and
Mack Etoll had two apiece, and
Antonio Robles and
Ben Conrow both shot once.
Men's soccer looks to extend their perfection on Monday, March 29 when they make the trip down East Avenue for an in-conference match against Nazareth, set to kick off at 4:30 P.M.
