FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University men's soccer team is semifinals bound after playing Merrimack to a 1-1 tie, ending with a 5-4 victory in penalty kicks in a Northeast Conference quarterfinal at home Sunday afternoon. Aidan Borra scored the lone Pioneer goal early in the first half and Andrew Hammersley captured the game-winning save on the fifth Warrior penalty kick.
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 6-7-4 (3-2-4 NEC)
Merrimack: 5-7-4 (3-3-2 NEC)
 
Top Performers:
Aidan Borra: 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on goal
David Garcia Gallego: 1 assist, 6 shots, 3 shots on goal
Alex Almuzara: 3 shots, 1 shot on goal
Matthias Dick: 1 shot, 1 shot on goal
Andrew Hammersley: 5 saves
 
Of note:
Sacred Heart opened scoring in the 7^th minute when David Garcia Gallego passed the ball to Borra who sent a far shot into the top right of the net.
 
Merrimack responded in the 31^st minute after a corner was sent into the box and scored by Laurie Goddard.
 
The remainder of the game was level with both teams unable to capitalize on opportunities. Both teams were still unable to score in the two 10-minute overtime periods.
 
Following the coin toss, the Pioneers shot first in the shootout. Matthias Dick, Javier Lopez Cayuela, Etienne Murugarren, Olliver Persson, and Aidan Borra all converted their penalty kicks. As the game approached sudden death, the fifth Warriors' penalty shot was saved by Hammersley, securing the win for the Pioneers.
 
Sacred Heart outshot Merrimack 16-13 and had eight corners to the Warriors' six. The teams were evenly contested with six shots on goal and five saves.
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers head to #1 Saint Francis University for an NEC Semifinal Thursday, November 9^th, at 1:30.