Box Score LYNDHURST, N.J. – Freshman forward Christopher McLaughlin (Hollis, N.Y./Preparatory Academy for Writers) scored his first two collegiate goals, including the game-winner in the fourth minute of overtime, to lead the Felician University men's soccer team to a 3-2 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory over visiting Post University on Wednesday night at the Lyndhurst Recreation Complex.
The victory thrust Felician (4-9-2, 3-6-1 CACC) into the middle of the hunt for the CACC's eighth and final playoff berth. With two games left to play, the Golden Falcons' 10 points are one behind eighth-place Bloomfield College. However, only two points separate eighth place from 13th in the standings.
Each team had already attempted one shot in extra time when Felician senior Makesi Lewis (Arima, Trinidad & Tobago/Queen's Royal College) launched a long ball from the back line that connected with McLaughlin on the left side of the 18-yard box. The freshman pivoted around a defender and put the ball into the net with his left foot at the 93:40 mark.
Both teams were opportunistic in the match's early stages. Post (5-7-2, 4-3-2) dented the scoreboard just 2:04 after the opening kickoff when Nicholas Strecker (Uncasville, Conn./Montville) collected a long throw-in from teammate Patrick D'Angelo (Danbury, Conn./South Kent) and finished from close range. Felician answered just 3 ½ minutes later. Midfielder Bashkim Saiti (Teaneck, N.J./Lyndhurst) ran to a loose ball in front of the net and touched it home.
McLaughlin put the Golden Falcons in front in the 16th minute when he stole the ball from an Eagle defender and put a shot inside the right post. The hosts carried the 2-1 lead into halftime with each team taking five shots.
A Felician miscommunication early in the second period allowed the visitors to tie the score. Golden Falcon senior goalkeeper Jasur Tursunboyev (Tashkent, Uzbekistan/Tashkent International) collided with a teammate while pursuing a ball, leaving an open net for Eagle sophomore Matteo Moro (Rome, Italy/Manfredi Azzarita). The impact of the collision forced Tursunboyev to leave the game.
Junior John Burns (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) (2-2-1) made two saves in 48 scoreless minutes in relief of Tursunboyev to pick up the victory between the pipes for Felician.
Felician amassed a 13-10 shot advantage for the night. Eagle keeper Jon Hanlon (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach) was credited with two saves.
Felician concludes the regular season with conference road games against Chestnut Hill College on Saturday and Dominican (N.Y.) College on Oct. 25.
