Aaron Johnson – Sports Editor
Sophomores Chae Brangman and Louis Greenway Tambini netted goals for the Southern Connecticut State men’s soccer team, as they defeated Le Moyne College 2-0 in the Owls’ home opener this past Saturday afternoon at Jess Dow Field.
“We played together as one,” said Brangman. “We knew all of that from the beginning. Coach told us what we had to do before the game and we capitalized.”
After dropping the previous game, the Owls were able to bounce back to the tune of two late scores. Tambini knocked in the insurance goal in the 75th minute for his second of the game. Senior captain Tyler Naef said that he was proud of the way the team has started the season playing.
“We have a lot new guys on the team,” he said. “I think we’ve come together well and quickly. Great chemistry on and off the field. We’re really focused on being one. We’re 11 players out there but we all play as one.”
Southern was able to control the match putting pressure on the Le Moyne defense as the Owls outshot the Dolphins 13-4, including eight second half shot. Sophomore Noah Varonier posted his second shutoff of the season for the Owls, who will look to continue their winning ways on the road for the next three matches.
“When you go up two goals at home you should never lose the game,” said Naef. “You should never tie the game either. You have got to stay compact and you got to work as a team because you know that their going to be sending it in there.”
Naef said that winning a game like this at home especially showed the fight that this Owls’ team has this season.
“We got to win the first ball,” he said. “We got to win the second ball. We got to work as a team and work hard grinding it out to the finish.”
Southern was able to keep up the pressure on the Le Moyne defense with three corners in the first half, but the Owls were unable to convert. Brangman said that although the Owls were able to secure this victory, there is still plenty of work to be done going forward this season.
“Actually capitalizing on scoring goals and doing a little bit more on finishing,” he said.
Naef said that the team will continue to move improve going into the next match on the road against the University of Bridgeport.
“(You) just keep getting better,” he said. “Every game needs to be a step in the right direction. We hold ourselves to a standard. We go out and we show we can play. It should never be worse than that it should be better. And we can keep better through training and then put it into match situations.”
