Box Score POST-GAME VIDEO
MANCHESTER, N.H. – Chris Tsonis (Dartmouth, Mass.) converted a penalty kick with 13:42 remaining in regulation as second-seeded Southern New Hampshire University edged No. 3 seed Merrimack College 1-0 in the second round of the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship East Regional Sunday afternoon at Larkin Field. The Penmen, who are ranked No. 10 nationally, improve to 18-3, while the No. 16-ranked Warriors see their season come to a close at 15-4-2 overall.
Southern New Hampshire advances to next weekend's East Regional final in which it will face fourth-seeded UMass Lowell on a day and time to be announced. The River Hawks were 1-0 winners over top-seeded LIU Post in Sunday's other regional semifinal. The Penmen topped the River Hawks twice this season, a 3-0 win on October 17 and a 2-0 win in the Northeast-10 semifinals on November 2.
Southern New Hampshire was awarded a penalty kick when Tsonis was hauled down in the penalty area by a Warrior defender. Tsonis converted the penalty kick for his team-high 15th goal of the season.
Merrimack, which was playing a man down following a red card in the 63rd minute, nearly came up with the equalizer with just under eight minutes to play. Off a long throw-in from the right, Olof Lindhe attempted to head the ball in inside the far left post, but Penmen keeper Dom DiMaggio (Rome, N.Y.) made a diving save to keep the Warriors off the board.
DiMaggio turned aside two shots en route to his 11th shutout of the season, while the Penmen were also credited with a team save as a Penmen defender swept away a Merrimack attempt late in the first half. Warrior keeper Jose Silva made seven saves as SNHU outshot Merrimack 16-11. The hosts also had five of the game's six corner kicks.
