(10-19-06)
Box Score
West Haven, Conn. -- Sophomore Justin Fernandez (photo) scored twice in the first half, but the University of New Haven men's soccer team allowed three unanswered goals in a 3-2 loss to American International College on Thursday afternoon at Robert B. Dodds Stadium.
New Haven (5-10-2) jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the strength of the two goals by Fernandez in the first 15 minutes of action. Just 55 seconds into the game, Tyler Smith played a nice through ball to the middle of the box and Fernandez sprinted around a defender, putting a shot into the lower left corner. Later, with 26:54 showing on the clock, Fernandez controlled the ball at the top of the box and launched a pinpoint shot into the upper right corner for his second goal of the season.
American International (8-7-2) never gave up, scoring twice in the latter portion of the first half to tie the contest heading to halftime. Gustavo Duarte took a long pass from defender Charles Branche and hit a shot from the right side with 19:59 left in the half, and then with 10:35 remaining in the first it was a goal by Kyle Paton off a deflection that went into the right side.
The teams continued to battle throughout a majority of the second half before AIC capitalized in the 82nd minute. Captain Norbert Dusza flicked a ball toward the mouth of the goal, and Chris Charles volleyed the ball out of the air just in front of UNH goalkeeper James Hilaire for the game-winner.
The Chargers tried furiously to get the equalizer in the last eight minutes, putting a pair of shots on goal, but could not tie the contest.
The team ends its regular season schedule with a non-conference game against Post University on Saturday, October 21. The team's 10 seniors will be honored prior to the contest, which is a doubleheader with the women's team taking on New York Tech at 1:30 p.m.
