Strong Second Half Pushes Johnson & Wales Past Men's Soccer

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Elms College men's soccer team fell to host Johnson & Wales University, 7-4, in non-conference action at the Scotts Miracle Gro Complex Wednesday night. The Blazers slide to 0-5 on the season, while Johnson & Wales improves to 4-1-1.

The Wildcats grabbed the early lead as freshman Erik Schneider (Plantsville, Conn.) converted his first of the day off a long up field pass from senior Xavier Carty (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.) at the 6:55 mark of the first half. The Blazers settled in and mounted a response. In the 13^th minute, Elms junior Donald Whittle (Somers, Conn.) found sophomore Shaquille Robinson (New York, N.Y.) on breakaway, where Robinson delivered the finish from six yards out to knot the match at 1-1.

With 24:05 remaining in the first half, Robinson returned the favor with a lead pass to Whittle through the Wildcat defense, who beat the keeper between his legs to hand the Blazers a 2-1 lead. The Wildcats found the equalizer just over a minute later as Schneider gathered a centering pass from sophomore Andrew Vecere (Wayne, N.J.) and fired a shot into the upper right corner, evening the score at 2-2.

In the 28^th minute, the Blazers regained control as Whittle launched a cross from the right sideline towards the back left post where Robinson knocked a header past Wildcat junior goalkeeper Nicholas Mancini (Toms River, N.J.) to push Elms ahead 3-2. The Blazers carried the 3-2 advantage into halftime.

After a weather delay pushed back the start of the second half, the Wildcats netted three unanswered goals to regain control of the scoreboard. Senior Rob Zukofsky (Scotch Plains, N.J.) knotted the contest at 3-3 after chipping home a cross from sophomore Teagan Drake (Waterbury, Vt.). Less than two minutes later, JWU freshman Jason Cruz (Providence, R.I.) fired an unassisted strike from 35 yards out to hand the Wildcats a 4-3 lead.

In the 65^th minute, Johnson & Wales junior Chris Schmid (Clifton Park, N.Y.) headed in a loose ball after Elms sophomore goalkeeper Anthony Palumbo (Bedford, N.Y.) made the save on the initial shot to push the Wildcats advantage to 5-3. Johnson & Wales registered their fourth straight goal of the second half as Carty ripped a shot from 20 yards out after a knocked down indirect kick from Verece to pad the lead to 6-3.

The Blazers snapped the Wildcats run as freshman Babba Jaden (Clarkston, Ga.) netted his first collegiate goal with an unassisted strike from six yards out in the 80^th minute. The Wildcats closed out the scoring as senior Andrew Greenleaf (Allen, Texas) put back a blocked shot from 12 yards out with 8:42 remaining to send the Wildcats to the 7-4 win.

Johnson & Wales controlled the shot column, 31-6, during the contest. Palumbo stopped a career-high eight shots, while Mancini didn't register a save in 90 minutes of action.

The Blazers will look to pick up a win when they travel to Connecticut College for a non-conference match Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Johnson & Wales heads to Norwich for a conference match Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

ELMS SOCCER