PRIDE EDGED BY MUSTANGS, 1-0

WESTON, Mass. – Despite outshooting the visitors by an 11-3 margin and holding a 10-2 advantage on corner kicks, the Regis College men's soccer team fell to Mount Ida College, 1-0 in the season opener for both teams. Senior Steve McDonald (Medford, Mass.) provided the heroics for the Mustangs (1-0), scoring the game-winner in the 73rd minute.

The first half proved to be a defensive battle, with neither team able to generate many quality scoring chances. Perhaps the most dangerous chance of the opening frame came within the opening 15 minutes of play when a Regis foul set Mount Ida up with a free kick from about 30 yards outside the box. Defender Carlos Rojas (Stamford, Conn.) sent a ball sailing for the back post towards a streaking Mustang player, but goalkeeper Stefan Todorovic (Los Angeles, Calif.) lept off his line and picked off the cross.

Regis' looked like they might break the tie in the 31st minute when a Ricardo Arguetta (Los Angeles, Calif.) shot from outside the 18-yard line was headed for the back of the net. Unfortunately for the Pride, Todorovic's counterpart Mat Pils (Monroe, Conn.), who would finish the game with four saves, was able to tip Arguetta's attempt over the crossbar to preserve the tie. Both teams entered halftime deadlocked at zero.

The Mustangs finally broke through with just under 18 minutes to play in regulation. With the ball in his possession by the penalty shot marker, freshman forward Vlasi Duni (Peabody, Mass.) slipped a pass to his left to an open McDonald, who tucked a shot underneath Todorovic for the 1-0 lead.

Less than a minute after the goal, it looked like the Crimson & Gold had tied things up. Sophomore Renato Rosas (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) ripped a left-footed shot from atop of the box, but the ball clanged off the top corner of the left post and crossbar and bounced out, where the Mustangs defense was able to clear the ball away. Mount Ida's back line would not budge in the waning minutes, and the Mustangs were even able to hold off a last minute push by Regis to come away with the win.

The Pride (0-1) were led by senior defenders Billy Sedewitz (Framingham, Mass.) and Alex Caliendo, who combined for five shots in the losing effort.

Mount Ida will host Lesley for their first home game of the season on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 2:00 p.m., while Regis will look for their first win of the season as they take on Emerson on the road at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4.