Ryan Flynn – Sports Editor –
Men’s Soccer qualified for a postseason berth for the twelfth season in sixteen under head coach Tom Lang. However, for the second straight year, the Owls (8-7-1) were bounced in the opening round of the Northeast-10 tournament, this time losing 5-0 Wednesday to Southern New Hampshire University.
Southern entered the tournament as the number seven seed and would have been forced to win three straight road games to claim the NE-10 postseason crown. Playing at Southern New Hampshire, the Owls were outshot 13-7.
A hungry Penman team scored twice early in the first half and then three times in the second period. Three of these goals were assisted by senior forward Jordan Branco.
The Owls put themselves in this position the previous Friday, when on senior night the team lost 1-0 to Bentley, locking them in to the seventh seed and presenting them with a much more difficult road to an NE-10 title.
“We made our bed and we have to sleep in it. The fact is that we had our chances, we didn’t put them away,” Lang said of Bentley. “We could’ve been in front three or fourth nothing and we didn’t do it. All it takes is one and they got their one.”
Lang praised his senior class, which helped lead the team to yet another winning season and playoff berth.
“The seniors have been great. They’ve been guys who have played on a consistent basis for us who get and understand the tradition and the history of the program here and what its all about. At the end of the day, that’s something that hopefully they’ve been able to impart to the younger players. It’s not only about winning to us, it’s about how we win and how we play and how we go about our business on and off the field.”
Seniors Mario DiMiceli, Mario Costa and Francisco Lara played well all season. DiMiceli was selected to the All-Conference First Team, while both Lara and Costa were selected to the Third Team. Freshman forward Daquan King was selected to the All-Rookie team.
“They’re excellent players,” junior Alexander Dorilla said of the senior class. “Two of the seniors are captains, they’re role models for the team so it’s unlucky that they’re not going to be here next year but that’s how it is.”
