When and Where: October 11, 2023 – Rockville Centre, N.Y. (John A. Darcy Field)
Score: RV Southern New Hampshire University 4, Molloy University 3
Records: SNHU 6-1-3, Molloy 2-8-3
Senior
Nicolas Gonzalez (Santander, Spain) and sophomore
Iago Perez (Oleiros, Spain) each scored two goals to lead the Southern New Hampshire University men's soccer team to a 4-3 victory over Molloy University in non-conference action Tuesday evening at Darcy Field.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Gonzalez – 2 goals
- Perez – 2 goals
- Sophomore Tyler Kraft (Londonderry, N.H.) – assist
- Graduate student Mikel Cortazar (Barakaldo, Spain) – assist
- Graduate student Rafa Escobedo (Santander, Spain) – assist
KEY MOMENTS
- After Molloy broke a scoreless tie early in the 28th minute, the score stayed 1-0 into the second half when Gonzalez tied the match with a penalty kick strike in the 62nd minute.
- The Lions went back in front in the 72nd, but Southern New Hampshire opened the flood gates over a nine-plus-minute span late in the contest.
- Perez scored on a through-ball from Kraft to tie the match in the 79th minute and again to give the Penmen the lead in the 85th when Cortazar set up a 1-on-1 with a defender that Perez won before beating the Molloy goalkeeper.
- Gonzalez added insurance with 1:36 remaining on a blast from 25 yards out after receiving a pass from Escobedo.
- Molloy scored off a rebound with just 15 seconds left on the clock.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Graduate student Jürgen Huber (Schorfling, Austria) made three saves.
- Molloy 'keeper Dennis Mejia stopped four of the eight shots he faced.
- SNHU outshot Molloy, 20-8, including 8-6 in shots on target.
- The Penmen also owned a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks.
NOTES
- Southern New Hampshire is receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division II Top 25 Poll.
- The Penmen lead the all-time series with the Lions, 4-0, and have now won both meetings at Molloy.
- The goals for Gonzalez were his second and third of the season, as well as the sixth and seventh of his career. Gonzalez' three goals this season have all come in the last two contests.
- Perez' goals were his third and fourth of the year, as well as the fourth and fifth of his career. Perez also scored two goals Sept. 6 against Post University.
- SNHU is now 128-32-23 (.762) over its last 183 matches dating back to the beginning of the 2013 National Championship season.
WHAT'S NEXT
- The Penmen are back in action Saturday, Oct. 14 (12:30 p.m.) when they take on Bentley University.
- The next home game for SNHU is Tuesday, Oct. 17 (7 p.m.) when it plays host to the College of Saint Rose on Manchester North Youth Soccer Night at Ouellette Stadium.
