PRIDE CLIMB PAST MOUNTAINEERS, 3-1

WESTON, Mass. – Led by Ricardo Argueta's (Los Angeles, Calif.) two assists, Regis College handed the Southern Vermont College Mountaineers a 3-1 loss in New England Collegiate Conference men's soccer action. The Pride, who improve to 7-9 overall and 4-2 in NECC play, have clinched the program's first NECC playoff spot with the win.

Prior to the game, seniors Sean Crawford (Framingham, Mass.) and Steve Tavares (Bellingham, Mass.) were recognized for their playing careers in what would be their final regular season home game. A few words about each player from Coach Capobianco were announced following the starting lineups.

The Mountaineers looked like they might get on the board first at the 22:18 mark when Pierre Massena (West Milford, N.J.) took a low, hard shot headed for the back of the net. Goalkeeper Stefan Todorovic (Los Angeles, Calif.) leaped onto the turf and was able to get a few fingers on the ball to send it just out of bounds. On the ensuing corner kick, the Pride defense was able to stay strong and clear the ball out of dangerous territory.

Regis struck first with less than five minutes to play in the first half. Freshman Mike Panagiotakos (Methuen, Mass.) found classmate Dillon Lanctot (Somersworth, N.H.) in the box, who chipped the ball over goalkeeper Christopher Dunham (Valley Falls, N.Y.) for the 1-0 lead.

The Crimson & Gold added to their lead early in the second half, with defender Alex Caliendo (Windsor, Conn.) scoring a header goal in the 50th minute from an Argueta corner kick. Argueta sent a high sailing ball to the back post, where Caliendo headed it home to put Regis up 2-0.

The Mountaineers answered less than three minutes later, with a goal that also came off a corner kick. Erik Argueta (Pico Rivera, Calif.) played in a ball that Jorge Cuevas (Chula Vista, Calif.) got a touch on. The ball found Ruben Olivares (Pico Rivera, Calif.), who shot it into the low left corner to cut the deficit in half.

The Pride responded again in the 75th minute with a Cody Puglisi (Centereach, N.Y.) goal. Argueta played a brilliant through ball to Puglisi, who unleashed a shot from the outside left flank that sailed past Dunham into the middle-right side of the goal for what would be the final 3-1 score. It was Puglisi's first career goal for Regis.

Dunham finished the game with eight saves for the Mountaineers, who fall to 2-13 on the year and 1-5 in the NECC. Todorovic collected seven saves on the day for the Pride.

Both squads will be back in action for 1:00 p.m. conference games next Saturday, October 27th. Regis travels to Mitchell College, while Southern Vermont will host Newbury College.