Engineers Surge Late to Defeat Monks, 3-1

Mike Sanfilippo '12
Mike Sanfilippo '12

PORTLAND, ME – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (2-0) defeated Saint Joseph's College (1-1), 3-1, in the third match of the Southern Maine Husky Fall Classic at Deering Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The two sides locked horns for over 70 minutes as the game stood at a 1-1 tie before Engineers freshman John Kramer (Glastonbury, Conn.) scored the eventual winner at the 71:38 mark. Kramer collected a through ball sent upfield by Tournament MVP Zach Kabelac (Potomac, Md.) and unleashed a shot that was tipped by SJC keeper Kenny Grade '13 (Hampton, N.H.), who charged out of the goal to cut down the angle. However, the pace of the shot carried the rebound into an open net to put the Engineers ahead to stay.

The Engineers struck first with a 19th-minute marker, as Kabelec headed home a crossing pass from sophomore Jonathan Tebes (Hamden, Conn.) at the 18:38 mark for his fourth goal of the young season.

Saint Joseph's punched home the equalizer with fewer than five minutes in the opening stanza when senior Mike Sanfilippo (Walpole, Mass.) hit a direct kick over the wall and into the net from 27 yards.

MIT picked up an insurance goal in the 83rd minute when freshman Alexander Dago (Chicago, Ill.) moved to the end line and drove a pass across the front of the goal where it was misplayed by a SJC defender on a score that was credited as an own goal.

MIT senior goalie Dylan Rankin (Providence, R.I.) picked up his second win of the season despite not registering a save, while Grade recorded five stops for the Royal Blue.

The Engineers held a 12-3 advantage in shots and a 12-3 edge in corner kicks en route to victory. The two New England Region teams had never met on the pitch before this afternoon's contest.

Three Saint Joseph's players garnered All-Tournament Team honors, as Sanfilippo, junior Joe Murphy (Poland, Maine) and sophomore Zach Johnson (Westbrook, Maine) all were recognized for their play in a pair of tourney tilts.

The Monks return to action on Thursday, September 8th in the side's 2011 home-opener versus Worcester State University. Kick-off is scheduled for 4:00 PM.

 

THANKS IN PART TO USM SPORTS INFORMATION