The Spectrum

Issue date: 9/14/06 Section: Sports

Jason Tessitore

Matthew Jones

Sophomore star forward Jason Tessitore scored during the 28th minute of the second half to propel the Pioneers men's soccer team to a 1-0 win against the University of Maine this past Saturday.

The Pioneers appeared to dominate right from the start when they took control of the ball by out shooting the Black Bears 8-4 in the first half and 10-4 in the second half. Freshman standout Jesper Fredriksson of Gothenburg, Sweden, had two attempts on goal set up by junior Pioneer Ricart Mendes of Brazil. Both were smacked down by the goal post and picked up quickly by Maine's freshman goalkeeper, Dereck Loisel. Loisel ended the game with four saves.

The first half may have kept the scoreboard at 0-0, but the game seemed to be riddled with fouls. Both teams played aggressively in search of their first win of the 2006 season. Maine ended the game with nineteen fouls and Sacred Heart with ten.

After the half, the game seemed to solely favor the Pioneers as the ball was kept in front of Maine's goal for the majority of the second half. A direct kick by Fredriksson with 42:30 left was the catalyst for a string of quick tempo plays and pass and go's for the Pioneers.

"The turning point of the game seemed to be the whole second half," said Tessitore of Ansonia, Conn. "We picked it up after the half and turned it all around." Tessitore seemed to be right. Mendes crossed the ball to Fredriksson shortly after the direct kick and headed it toward the goal, but it was knocked down again by the goal post. Fredriksson ended the game with six shots on goal. The freshman's six shots are the most for any Sacred Heart Pioneer this season.

Tessitore's goal was assisted by Pioneer sophomore, Anthony Anzevui, of Newcastle, England, who saw a chance to score and lobbed the ball over the defense and straight to Tessitore. With one fake, Tessitore dribbled around the goalkeeper, who had dove for the ball and missed, and with a soft tap put the Pioneers on the board.

"It feels good to be back on track," Tessitore said after the game about his first goal of the season and his second against Maine. "I'm ready for a winning season now." During last season's game with Maine, Tessitore scored the only goal of the game, and clenched the win for the Pioneers with only minutes remaining.

After the Pioneers put themselves on the board, the Black Bears had a chance to come back. The Black Bears star sophomore forward, Dimitri Anastasiou, dribbled past the Pioneer defense and into the box, and was able to set up for a shot on Matthew Jones. Jones, the Pioneers sophomore goalkeeper, was able to save the ball. He had two saves in the game which led to his first shutout of the 2006 season.

Luke Gagliardi, the sophomore standout from North Branford, Conn helped to clinch the win for the Pioneers. The forward's quick passes to Tessitore and Fredriksson helped keep the ball in front of Maine's goal. Gagliardi was pulled during the first half, and replaced by Jeton Shoshi after he suffered an injury to his foot. Gagliardi returned after icing his injury and finished the game.

Junior midfield Jimmy Velas and Anastasiou led the Black Bears with three shots each but could not pull off a goal and left the field with another loss. The Pioneers, who finished last season with a 7-7-4 record, have their work cut out for them if they plan to improve on that mark.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools