Andrade Buries Late Second Half Goal to Secure Draw Against Albertus Magnus

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State junior Coleby Andrade (Falmouth, Mass.) delivered the equalizing goal with 9:28 remaining in the game to tie Albertus Magnus 2-2 in the season opener on Thursday night from Alumni Field in Westfield, Mass. Andrade scored the game-tying goal off a free-kick feed from senior Jacoby Authier (Holyoke, Mass.) who angled a pass into the center of the box where Andrade beat a slew of defenders and then rocketed a shot into the top left corner of the net.

The Owls jumped out to an early lead at the ten-minute mark when first-year Justin Kennedy (Holyoke, Mass.) drew a penalty in the box, setting up a penalty shot goal by senior Matthew Allen (Southwick, Mass.) to open the scoring. Albertus Magnus would respond with a penalty kick of their own as the Falcons leading scorer a season ago, Kelvin Cortez (Meriden, Conn.), netted the equalizer on a shot labeled to the top right-hand corner of the goal.

The Falcons would take the lead eight minutes later when junior Logan Miller (Plainville, Conn.) sent a ball from the 20-yard boundary into the middle of the box where first-year Yahya Kardad (Wallingford, Conn.) headed the ball past Owls' keeper Emilio Mancuso (Ludlow, Mass.) to put Albertus up a goal.

The score would remain the same late into the second half in part to the play of Mancuso, who made timely saves to give Westfield a chance to eventually tie the game. Mancuso collected 14 saves on the night, including a final save with ten seconds left in regulation to preserve the tie. The Owls fought off relentless pressure by the Falcons which saw them rack up 26 shots to the Owls five. However, the Owls took full advantage of their opportunities, converting on two of their five legitimate chances.

First-year goalkeeper David Lucero (East Haven, Conn.) collected two saves on the night.

Westfield State (0-0-1) stays home for their next game as they host Suffolk on Saturday from Alumni Field at 5:00 P.M. Albertus Magnus (0-0-1) will face Mitchell in their home opener on Saturday at 2:00 P.M.