Silva’s Overtime Goal Lifts Men’s Soccer Past Southern Vermont, 3-2

Box Score

CHICOPEE, MA – Elms College junior Chris Silva (Chicopee, MA) headed home the game-winning goal, his second of the day, off a cross from junior Josh Chagnon (Loudon, NH) just two minutes into the overtime period to help lift the Blazers to a thrilling, hard-fought 3-2 victory over Southern Vermont in Saturday afternoon’s New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) men’s soccer game at Leary Field.

With the win, Elms snaps a four-game losing slide to improve to 4-12 on the season, 2-4 in league play. Southern Vermont falls to 10-5-1 overall, 3-2-1 in NECC action.

After playing to a scoreless second half, the sides entered the extra period in a 2-2 deadlock. At the 91:21 mark, Chagnon played a ball across the field just in front of the left post that Silva headed past Southern Vermont goalkeeper Aaron Eschler (Gloversville, NY) to give the Blazers the 3-2 win.

Silva led Elms’ offensive charge, firing four of the teams 14 shots, as the Blazers outshot the Mountaineers 14-11 on the day.

Southern Vermont opened the scoring in the contest as Nick Haggerty (Wynantskill, NY) drilled his 13th goal of the season off a pass from Adrien Alexis (Maplewood, NJ) just five minutes into the game to give the Mountaineers a 1-0 edge.

Alexis added to that lead at the 16:51 mark when he connected for his 13th goal of the season, giving Southern Vermont a 2-0 cushion.

Elms answered right back when junior midfielder Courtney Johnson (Belchertown, MA) found Silva with a cross that Silva netted for his second goal of the season at the 19:44 mark. The score was just a preview of what was to come for Silva.

The Blazers evened the score at 2-2 23 minutes into the first half when freshman forward Tavish Leland (Bridgton, ME) blasted his team-leading fourth goal of the season.

From there, the sides played scoreless soccer until Silva provided his heroics early in the extra period.

Alexis accounted for five of the Mountaineers’ 11 shots to lead the offensive effort, while Eschler finished with four saves.

Elms senior goalkeeper Nick Pellegrini (Ludlow, MA) stopped four shots in the winning effort.

The Blazers return to action on Tuesday, Oct. 27 when they travel to Rivier for a non-conference contest. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.