Falcons Draw Even With Buccaneers, 1-1 In Double Overtime

Loyd tallies team-leading ninth goal on the season for Fitchburg State

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State men's soccer team registered a 1-1 double overtime with the Buccaneers of Mass. Maritime Academy this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from Elliot Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 1, Mass. Maritime 1 (2OT)
Records: Fitchburg State (5-5-2, 2-1-1 MASCAC) | Mass. Maritime (2-8-3. 0-3-1 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Mass. Maritime grabbed a 1-0 margin just 2:06 into the contest as junior Jacob Crawford (Rockland, Mass.) collected a loose ball in front of the net and deposited a shot inside the near post for his second marker of the season.

Fitchburg State nearly tied the contest late in the frame with freshman Alexander Loyd (Kingston, Mass.) putting a shot on frame, but junior Benjamin Paine (Dartmouth, Mass.) made an outstanding save for the Buccaneers, clearing the ball off the goal line to preserve the 1-0 edge going into the break.

Following the intermission, the Green and Gold threatened with roughly seven minutes remaining in regulation as Loyd and freshman Joshua Atemkeng (Peabody, Mass.) put a pair of shots on frame, but Buccaneers keeper John Murphy (Braintree, Mass.) turned aside both shots.

With time winding down, Fitchburg State knotted the score at 1-1 with just 1:47 left as Loyd converted a penalty kick for his team-leading ninth marker of the 2019 campaign to force overtime.

In the overtime, the Falcons best scoring opportunity occurred in the 103rd minute when freshman Sebastian Pina (Somerville, Mass.) blasted a shot that sailed just high, while the Buccaneers best offensive chance was by sophomore Shane MacNeil (Braintree, Mass.), which was denied by Falcon keeper Branton Abbett (Jasper, Ind.), resulting in the 1-1 double overtime draw.

Inside the Numbers

• This evening's contest marked the 43rd meeting between the two squads on the pitch with the Falcons 24-11-8 all-time vs the Buccaneers
• Fitchburg State held a 23-20 margin in shots, while Mass. Maritime finished with a slim 9-8 edge in corner kicks
• Abbett stopped seven shots for the Falcons
• Murphy made seven saves for the Buccaneers

Up Next

Falcons will host the Cardinals of Wesleyan University on Wednesday for a non-conference tilt, starting at 7:00 PM. Buccaneers will host the Judges of Brandeis University on Tuesday for a non-conference matchup at 7:00 PM.