Sacred Heart Soccer Nets First Win, 1-0, Over Northeast Conference Rival Quinnipiac
10/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 27, 2002
FAIRFIELD, CT (October 27, 2002) - With 45 seconds remaining and the first win of the 2002 season hanging in the balance, Sacred Heart freshman goalkeeper Chris Marchese (Middletown, CT) made the biggest save of his young career. Marchese turned away Quinnipiac senior Paul Dworak's penalty kick with just 45 seconds to go in the game to preserve a 1-0 lead and snap the Pioneer's 14-game winless streak.
With the SHU holding a 1-0 lead and trying to fend off any last ditch efforts from an attacking Quinnipiac offense, the Pioneers were whistled for a foul in the box with just 45 seconds remaining awarding the Bobcats a penalty kick. Dworak lined up his kick looking to send the contest into overtime and fired toward the upper right corner where Marchese was waiting to turn away his effort. The Pioneer defense quickly cleared the ball and within moments the final horn blew signaling that the streak had come to an end as the freshman goalkeeper was quickly swarmed by his teammates.
Senior captain Franco Cartiera (New Britain, CT) gave the Pioneers the lead just before halftime, finding the net for the sixth time this season at the 44th minute. Cartiera was streaking down the right sideline and just beat Bobcat goalkeeper Conor Shilcock-Elliot to the ball sending his shot toward the goal just before the two collided. The Pioneer defense was tested throughout the second half but stood tall turning away every QU opportunity. Marchese faced nine shots on the afternoon and recorded seven saves, none bigger than his last.
Elliot recorded 10 saves on the afternoon for Quinnipiac, nine were in the first half.
The win breaks a season long winless streak and a six game losing streak while moving the Pioneers to 1-11-2 and 1-5-1 in the Northeast Conference. Quinnipiac falls to 0-11-2 and 0-7-1 in the conference.
Sacred Heart returns to action Tuesday, October 29th as they play host to Colgate University in a non-conference tilt before traveling to in-state rival Central Connecticut on Friday, November 1st.
