WESTON, Mass. – Litchie Barbosa (Boston, Mass.) set a new program career assist record and Chris Szarek (San Diego, Calif.) scored the gamewinner in overtime to lift the Regis (Mass.) men's soccer team to a critical 3-2 win over Rivier in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action Tuesday night at Regis Stadium.
The win avoided giving the Raiders (2-12-1, 0-8-1 GNAC) their first league win and improved the Pride's position in the GNAC Tournament with one match to play.
Barbosa's assist came in the 19th minute for the game's first goal. Gathering the ball at the top of the penalty box, he slipped a ball inside to Derek Triana (Port Saint Lucie, Fla.) who finished in the opposite side netting for the 1-0 Regis lead.
Both teams had a handful of chances in the first half but it were the Raiders that broke through with the equalizer just before halftime. Rivier earned a penalty kick after Regis (8-7, 5-4 GNAC) was called for a handball inside box. Ben Noelk (Georgetown, Mass.) promptly converted the spot kick and the two teams headed to the break deadlocked at 1-1.
The second half featured a pair of goals within a four-minute span. Rivier took a 2-1 lead in the 67th minute when Prince Moye (Lowell, Mass.) took a shot from outside the box over the outstretched hand of Regis keeper Jesse Bonilla (Ramona, Calif.).
The Pride tied the game on a Barbosa goal in the 71st minute. Regis drew a foul outside the left side of the box and Barbosa slotted the kick into the far post for the equalizer. The teams battled it out for the remainder of regulation and the match went into overtime.
In the 96th minute Szarek shined with his gamewinner on a second assist from Barbosa. He took shot from Barbosa pass at the top of the box and found an opening under the cross bar and over the hand of Rivier keeper Collin Deyarmin (Raymond, N.H.).
Bonilla tallied five saves on the evening with Deyarmin posting seven.
Regis next hosts Emmanuel Saturday, Oct. 21, 1:00 p.m. for Senior Day to close the league season in what will prove to be a critical matchup to determine next week's GNAC Tournament seeding. Rivier next hosts Anna Maria on Saturday as well at 1:00 p.m.
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