Box Score

Box Score

THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Nov. 3, 2010) – The Maritime men's soccer team advanced to the Skyline Conference Tournament Finals after winning a penalty kick shootout, 4-2, over St. Joseph's-L.I. Wednesday night in semifinal action at Reinhart Field. The game officially ended as a 2-2 tie after two scoreless overtimes could not decide a winner. The Privateers will now play host to Old Westbury on Saturday, Nov. 6, for a chance to win the Skyline Conference Championship and earn the conference's automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

Senior Andrew Rahner (Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) (Setauket, N.Y.) buried the shootout-clinching goal in the fifth round of the event after sensational play by senior goalkeeper Harris Papson (Flushing, N.Y./Francis Lewis) (Flushing, N.Y./Francis Lewis). Papson did not allow two of the Eagles four shots into the net during the shootout – their first shot hit off the post and their third shot was saved by Papson. Junior Tom Federico (Islip, N.Y./Islip) (Islip, N.Y./Islip), sophomore Haluk Erdogan (Izmir,Turkey/Aliaga Alp Oguz Anadolu Lisesi) (Izmir,Turkey/Aliaga Alp Oguz Anadolu Lisesi) and freshman Yunus Yildiz (Adapazari, Turkey/Yenikent Anudolu Lisesi) (Adapazari, Turkey/Yenikent Anudolu Lisesi) also scored for the Privateers in the shootout, while junior Jason Tursi (Farmingdale, N.Y./Plainedge) (Farmingdale, N.Y./Plainedge) was stopped by the St. Joe's keeper in the opening round.

In the first half of the game, St. Joseph's controlled most of the play early. The Eagles registered the first six shots of the game and forced Papson to make three very important saves in just the first 20 minutes. The Privateers battled back and evened out the momentum about halfway through the half and had the best chance to score in the half in the 39th minute. Erdogan rushed in to a loose ball that the Eagles' keeper was charging, chipped it over the diving goalie and the ball trickled closer to the goal line but was knocked out before it crossed by a St. Joseph's defender. Towards the end of the first half, there were three yellow cards issued (two against St. Joe's and one against Maritime) before the half ended scoreless.

Once again, the Eagles came out strong to start the half, recording six shots before Maritime even recorded one. However, in the 52st minute, St. Joe's Julian Barreiros was sent off after receiving his second yellow card of the game and the Eagles were forced to play a man down for the rest of the contest.

Maritime took advantage of this and scored on their first shot of the second half in the 60th minute. Junior John Blunden (Arlington, Va./Washington) found the twine after getting a pass down the left side. St. Joseph's found the equalizer in the 74th minute when Stephan Zaech took in the ball all alone after a deflection off the Maritime defender and scored. However, the Privateers struck right back just 20 seconds later when Tursi scored his second of the game after a cross from Federico found him wide open at the far side of the net and he buried it into the open side. With victory almost seven minutes away, St. Joe's scored again to tie the game at 2-2 when Craig Ceruti gathered the ball in the middle of the 18-yard box and fired it low through a crowd in front that screened Papson for another equalizer.

The two overtime periods saw even chances for both teams, as the squads split the shots evenly, 4-4. In the first overtime, Papson had to make two saves. The final time ticked off the clock and the game ended in a 2-2 tie, calling for a shootout to determine who would move on in the tournament.

With the tie, the Privateers record moves to 12-8-1 overall on the season, while the Eagles end the year with an 11-7-2 mark.

Maritime will return to action in the Skyline Conference Finals this Saturday, Nov. 6, when the squad plays host to Old Westbury. The Panthers (14-8 overall, 7-3 Skyline) defeated Farmingdale State, 3-1, on the road earlier on Wednesday to advance to Saturday. Game time between the Privateers and Old Westbury is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Reinhart Field.