PHOTO GALLERY
West Haven, Conn. - The Chargers took to their home field for the last time this season, as they honored their seniors before taking on the Mavericks of Mercy College. An all-out effort from New Haven would complete the game, but senior Sean Lane-Turnbull (Wellington, New Zealand/Rongotai College) would be the driving factor, netting the lone goal of the evening, as well as goalkeeper Kyle Mather (Amesbury, Mass./Central Catholic) making some late game saves to take home the win.
The first half of play consisted of back-and-forth play, with offensive opportunities on each side. Strong defensives deterring any goals for both teams. Mercy outshot the Chargers by three in the first half, 7-4, with three of the Chargers shots forcing a save from the Mercy goalkeeper. New Haven taking control on their offensive movements, as they grabbed a total of three corners before half-time came around.
Three different New Haven players finding shots on goal, Sandro Branquinho (Covilha, Portugal/Wright State), Sean Lane-Turnbull (Wellington, New Zealand/Rongotai College), and Alexander Gunnarson. Oskar Kvarnback (Stockholm, Sweden/Bromma Gymnasium) also adding a shot to the column but was a bit outside not forcing a save. Gianluca Cerosimo (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Escuela Arentina Modelo) back in goal for the Chargers would grab five saves, keeping Adelphi to zero as we entered half time.
As we entered the second half, both teams looking for the opening goal of the evening, but New Haven would be the first to find it. Augustus McGiff (Brookhaven, N.Y./Bellport) with the ball, would get some room and dribble middle of the box towards the baseline. Using his footwork, McGiff would be able to turn around maintain possession of the ball, where he would find a cutting Sean Lane-Turnbull (Wellington, New Zealand/Rongotai College) coming towards the box. With a quick pass to the feet of Lane-Turnbull, one dribble and a left footer to the opposite post, would bring the Mercy goalkeeper to a dive to save the ball, but it would not be enough. With that goal, the stalemate was broken, and the Chargers took their first lead of the game.
As the time wound down on the game clock, the Chargers were not able to get the go-ahead goal, maintain their lead at one, and denying Mercy from tying it up. Kyle Mather (Amesbury, Mass./Central Catholic) coming into goal for the second half would be a big aspect of the New Haven win, making some amazing saves in the net late in the second half. Mercy would be awarded a free kick outside of the box, that being sent into the circle would be headed by one Maverick and redirected to another. A header to the back post, which looked like it would be the tiebreaker, would force Mather to make a diving save to clear the ball away.
In the last three minutes of play, Mercy put on the burners, actively pressuring the Chargers backfield. Mather stepping up in goal, would make a late save to keep the New Haven lead. A rally by Mercy would start with a close range shot inside the box, bringing Mather down to his knees, but swatting the ball down to the foot of another Mercy player. A direct shot off the save back to Mather would bring him up to his feet, making the save and sending the ball up, where Zach Fawaz (Dix Hills, N.Y./Commack) would make a defensive save at the line, heading the ball above the crossbar and out of play.
Time would shortly run off the clock, as New Haven would maintain the possession away from Mercy, and the win would go in favor of the Chargers. New Haven ended the game with 10 shots, six of those on goal, led by Sean Lane-Turnbull (Wellington, New Zealand/Rongotai College) with three and Sandro Branquinho (Covilha, Portugal/Wright State) with two. Kyle Mather (Amesbury, Mass./Central Catholic) would make a total of four saves in the second half, combining with Cerosimo's first half stats for a total of nine saves on the evening.
New Haven now moves to 6-6-2 overall and will wrap up regular season play with one more conference game against Saint Michael's. That game is scheduled for Saturday, October 28th at 2:00 p.m.
