Men's Soccer Knocks Off Reigning Champions In 2OT

AURORA, N.Y. – Freshman Jack Pilgrim (North Kingstown, R.I.) scored his second goal of the day with only 1:58 remaining in the second overtime period, lifting the Wells College men's soccer team to a thrilling 2-1 victory over visiting Morrisville State College on Wednesday. Wells moves to 8-5 overall on the season and to 5-2 within conference play. The Mustangs drop to 7-3-2 on the year while picking up their first NEAC loss of the year (6-1-1).

The preseason favorites to win the conference according to the NEAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the reigning NEAC Champion Mustangs were toppled by Wells for the first time since Nov. 3, 2009. In that contest, Alioune Sene's goal only 1:50 into the second overtime period lifted the Express to its' first-ever NEAC postseason victory.

Immediately following a corner kick by senior Ryan Mitzel (Voorhees, N.J.), Pilgrim was able to get behind the Morrisville State defense and head the ball past goalkeeper Rob Larkin for the game-winning strike. The goal was Pilgrim's second game-winning strike of the season and was his team-leading seventh tally of 2015.

His first goal of the game came only 10:35 into regulation time as junior Hunter Sowersby (Sidney, N.Y.) sent a corner kick toward the goalmouth. With the ball kicked out of the goal crease, he sent a ball back into the mix that caught the head of sophomore Jim Duchesneau (South Glastonbury, Conn.). The ball caromed toward the right post where it was headed home by Pilgrim for the goal.

The Mustangs applied significant pressure toward the end of the first half, firing five shots and taking two corner kicks from 32:19 to 36:35. Chernor Barrie cashed in at 37:34, however, capping off a strong stretch of offensive play by collecting a slick pass forward from Jeffrey Hado that led to a short breakaway attempt.

Wells goalkeeper Owen May (Warsaw, N.Y.) improved to 7-2 overall on the year while Larkin drops to 5-3-2 on the season. The Express were outshot by a 19-to-9 margin and trailed the Mustangs in corner kicks, 10-to-4, but put back the game-winner on its first shot of the second overtime period.

The Express will welcome the Wildcats from the SUNY Polytechnic Institute to campus this Saturday, Oct. 17 at high noon.