BOX SCORE Loretto, Pa. - Senior Andres Vega (Managua, Nicaragua/Colegio Centro America) injected life into the Saint Francis men's soccer team's (8-6, 1-2 NEC) playoff aspirations with a header in the 104th minute to lift SFU over Bryant (1-8-2, 1-1-1 NEC) 1-0 in double overtime on Sunday.

Moore's Reaction

"The lads showed tremendous character today," said head coach Antony Moore. "Our backs were up against it when we got sent to 10 men but the guys continued to fight and believe and were rewarded with three massive points."

Turning Point

Things looked rather dire for the Red Flash when freshman Christian Kirchhoff (Aarhaus, Denmark) was shown a red card in the 78th minute but Saint Francis withheld a Bryant surge before managing to find the game's only goal in double overtime.

Highlights

• Kirchhoff set the tone early for Saint Francis with a driving run through the midfield that came to an end when his left-footed shot from the top of the box rolled just wide.
• Freshman Lucas Rosa (Atibaia Brazil/COC Atibaia) had a nice chance minutes later after junior Mario Mastrangelo (Venetia, Pa/Peters Township) laid off a ball into his path but his left-footed shot curled wide.
• Senior Kaelon Fox (Louisville, KY/St. Xavier (Kentucky)) appeared to put SFU in front in the first half with a glancing header of a Rosa free kick, but Bryant goalkeeper Nick Stewart made a highlight reel save from in close.
• Mastrangelo came oh so close to striking for the game's first goal in the 40th minute when he intercepted an errant back pass and rounded the keeper but his shot from a tight angle hit the inside of the post and bounded to safety.
• Stewart made his second impressive save off a header early in the second half, this time denying Mastrangelo after a perfect cross from senior Troye Kiernan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair).
• Senior goalkeeper Marcus Rojas (Fremont, Calif./Bellarmine College Preparatory) made his best save in the 70th minute off a loose ball scramble that ensued after a Bryant free kick.
• Sophomore Kyle Moerschbacher (State College, PA/State College) got in on goal after a Kirchhoff pass but was denied by Stewart in the 75th minute.
• Kirchhoff was deemed to earn a straight red in the 78th minute for a foul on the sideline opposite the benches.
• Bryant had a golden chance to win it in the first overtime but Jason Norat's shot from the top of the box sailed just high.
• Rosa started a counter attack in the 104th minute that led to the winning goal. Junior Nicco Mastrangelo (Venetia, Pa/Peters Township) busted down the left side to join the attack and was fed by Rosa. He played the ball wide to Moerschbacher who whipped in a cross that met Vega's head as he had beat his defender across the face of goal.

Notes

• SFU managed to outshoot Bryant 15-12 despite playing the final 25 minutes down a man.
• Shots on goal were 8-3 in favor of the Red Flash.
• SFU attempted nine corner kicks to Bryant's three.
• Moerschbacher led the way with three shots.
• Rojas earned his fourth shutout of the season and the 16th of his career to tie Darius Motazed for fourth in school history.
• After dropping an overtime contest to FDU on Friday, the Red Flash improved to 3-2 in overtime this season thanks to Vega's golden goal.
• Nicco Mastrangelo and Moerschbacher each recorded their second assista of the season on the goal.

Up Next

Saint Francis treks to the Big Apple for conference tilts at LIU Brooklyn on Friday and St. Francis Brooklyn on Sunday.