Men's Soccer Comes Up Just Short at Penn

The Central Connecticut men's soccer team fell to 1-1-0 on the season with a 4-3 loss on the road at Penn on Sunday afternoon.  The Blue Devils scored the first goal of the game less than two minutes into the action, but Penn responded with three first half goals to help earn the victory.

The game featured a wild ending.  The Blue Devils tied the game 3-3 in the 88th minute on the first goal of the season from junior Dominic Plant.  Central had trailed 3-1 in the half, but the goal from Plant and an earlier goal in the half from junior Zach Zurita helped to tie the game.

Penn responded, however, and scored the game-winner with under a minute to play to claim the victory.  Duke Lacroix beat Central's junior goalkeeper Nick Velleca with the goal to lead Penn to the win. 

Velleca played all 90 minutes in goal for the Blue Devils and picked up the loss.  He made a pair of saves.

Senior Keir Hannity got the Blue Devils on the board just 1:15 into the game on his first goal of the season.  Following a corner kick Hannity took a feed from freshman teammate Filosmar Cordeiro and beat the Penn keeper for the 1-0 lead.

Penn responded, and scored three times before the end of the first half to take a 3-1 lead at the break.  Zurita's first goal of the season came in the second half and cut the Penn lead to 3-2.  Plant scored to tie the game at 3-3 before Penn rallied for the win.  Plant took a loose ball after a corner kick and beat the keeper to tie the game.

Penn held a 16-11 edge in shots while the Blue Devils had seven corner kicks in the match, two of which helped lead to goals.  Each keeper made two saves.

The Blue Devils return to action at home on Saturday hosting Navy beginning at 4:30 p.m. on the CCSU Soccer Field.