BROCKTON, Mass. ---- The Massasoit Community College men's soccer team raced out to a 3-0 first-half lead, but the visiting Monroe Community College Tribunes rallied for four unanswered goals, eventually claiming a 4-3 victory in overtime on Saturday afternoon at Warrior Field.
Massasoit (2-2) started off with a bang, when sophomore Andrew Revanales (Trinidad/Sharon HS) took a pass from sophomore defender Zac DaCunha (Somerset, Mass./Somerset HS) at midfield for a breakaway goal just 29 seconds into the match. The goal marked his team-best fifth of the season.
The Warriors increased the lead to 2-0, when Massasoit rifled off three shots in a row, the first two being saved, before Sidney Cardoso (Portugal) found the back of the net in the 28th minute.
Just over 12 minutes later, Vangjel Kutulla (Norwood, Mass./Norwood HS) rifled a free kick past the Tribune keeper to give Massasoit a commanding 3-0 lead with five minutes left in the opening stanza.
However, Monroe CC (2-2-1) responded, as Dominique Modeste corralled a cross and netted the visiting Tribunes first goal with only 51 seconds to go in the half as momentum shifted away from the home Warriors heading into the locker room.
"That was the momentum that killed us (referring to Monroe CC's late first half goal)" Massasoit head coach Rui Estrela said. "I told the guys that we can't allow this team to come back. One minute left in the half and we are up 3-0. You go into the half up 3-0, (Monroe CC) wouldn't have wanted to play. We gave them life by allowing that late goal."
In the second half it was all Monroe CC. Marquis Pitt pulled the Tribunes within one, punching a shot through a scrum in front of the net in the 66th minute.
Massasoit looked as though it would escape with a one-goal victory. But, the Warriors were whistled for a foul just outside the box in the 89th minute. Julian MacDonald served in a perfect free kick to Tomtom Johnson as the Tribunes had rallied to tie the score, 3-3.
Each team had its changes in overtime, but the visiting Tribunes' Pitt netted the golden goal, his second of the game, off a corner kick as Monroe CC earned the come-from-behind victory.
"I thought overall we played well," Estrela said. "Guys played hard. In the second half we dropped a little bit just because we were in the lead, but in the end of the day I think the goals were a lack of focus on our end then (Monroe CC) creating something."
NEXT GAME: Massasoit hosts rival Dean College on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 4 p.m.
