ROSAS NAILS GAME-WINNER IN OT

WESTON, Mass. – Senior co-captain Renato Rosas (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) scored on a rebound in the third minute of overtime to give the Regis College men's soccer team a 2-1 victory over visiting New England College on Wednesday afternoon. The Pride improves to 3-1 on the year, while the Pilgrims fall to 3-2.

Dillon Lanctot (Somersworth, N.H.) fired a shot on net that was saved by the NEC keeper Dylan Mix (Charlestown, N.H.), but the rebound caromed out to Rosas, who fired on the open net and sent the Pride home with their third win of the season.

Manny Santiago (Bristol, Conn.) picked up the victory in net for the Pride by making four saves in the game. His counterpart Mix matched him with four saves on the day, while falling to 1-1 on the year.

Regis held a 16-14 edge in shots for the game and took five corner kicks to three for New England College.

The Crimson and Gold struck first in the opening half as Lanctot took a through ball off the foot of Amandio Ferreira (Dorchester, Mass.) and slipped the ball past the NEC keeper for a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute of the game. NEC responded nearly 10 minutes later as Ronsard Masamba (Haverhill, Mass.) worked a give-and-go with Rizy Misiri (Concord, N.H.) that led to Masamba lofting a ball high in the air and over the outstretched hands of Manny Santiago.

The game would enter the half in a 1-1 tie, and Regis would turn up the intensity on offense, taking the first five shots of the second period, but only one of them ended up on goal. The game turned into a back-and-forth battle for possession, but neither team could find the back of the net.

In the 76th minute, the Pilgrims had their best chance of the second half as Michael Skarbelis (North Andover, Mass.) shook free of his defender and found himself alone at the top of the box. The sophomore put the ball on his right foot and fired toward the right post, but Manny Santiago dove to his left and batted the ball away to preserve the 1-1 tie.

On the ensuing Regis possession, Jai Pandit (Parkland, Fla.) received a throw in and turned to play a cross into the box. Daniel Calderone (Wellesley, Mass.) found himself alone in front of the net and headed the ball just high over the crossbar.

Ronsard Masamba took a pair of shots in the final 1:12 of regulation, but Santiago was up to the task as he kept NEC off the board and helped set up Rosas' heroics in overtime.

Regis is back in action on Saturday afternoon as they wrap up a three game home stand with an 11:00 a.m. game against Rhode Island College. New England College travels to Elms College on Saturday as well, taking on the Blazers at 1:00 p.m.