WORCESTER, Mass. – An early second half go-ahead goal from senior Pau Santanach (Barcelona, Spain/Collegi CreaNova), his team leading fifth of the season, turned out to be the game-winning tally as the New Haven men's soccer team won its third straight, 2-1 over Assumption University. With the win, New Haven improves to 7-3-1 overall and 4-2 in the Northeast-10 Conference, moving into second place in the league standings with 12 points in its favor.
Santanach's game-winning goal came late in the 54th minute and extended his team lead to five goals in 2024. Also finding the back of the net for the Blue and Gold was senior captain Adam Lindstrom (Orbero, Sweden/Grillska Gymnasiet) who scored the first goal of the afternoon thanks to an assist from Santanach. Also picking up a point on the day was Albert Portas (Barcelona, Spain/IES Sant Sust) who provided the assist on Santanach's goal.
Overall for the game, New Haven dominated the pace of play against the Greyhounds, closing out the 90 minute contest with a commanding 21-5 lead in the shot column with an additional six shots marked on goal and forcing the Greyhounds keeper into action. On the opposite end of the field, the Chargers keeper, Archie Watts (Bristol, England/SGS College) finished the game with a pair of saves among the five total shots from Assumption.
Lindstrom's game opening goal began at the midfield as the Chargers worked their way through the assumption defense with a series of passes, the last of which found Santanach on the right side of the 18-yard box. Santanach, who was deep in the box, sent the ball across the goal line where Lindstrom, who was making a run towards the end line, dove full-outstretched headfirst, putting his crown on the ball and easily beating the Greyhounds keeper who was still making his way across the front of the goal.
After taking the 1-0 lead on Lindstrom's goal into the halftime break, the Greyhounds responded by scoring an early second half goal, just over three minutes into the action. The Chargers wouldn't led that lead last long as Santanach struck less than six minutes later with the eventual game winner.
Again with the scoring play beginning at midfield, the Chargers won a deep punt by the Greyhounds keeper with Portas controlling and bringing the ball up the sideline. After dribbling up nearly 30 yards, Portas used a right foot from outside of the box to send the ball deep toward the goal line where it was Santanach who used the peak of his head this time around to redirect the ball into the left corner just inside the upright.
New Haven will return to Kathy Zolad Stadium the next time it takes the pitch as they welcome crosstown rival Southern Connecticut for a rematch of the early NE10 conference win, 3-0, by the Blue and Gold. Round two in the Elm City rivalry is slated for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff with all of the action available live on NE10 Now on Flo Sport.
