Posted: Oct 06, 2013
The Husson men's soccer team defeated the Johnson State Badgers in a physical game by a final score of 2-1. With the win, the Eagles improve to 4-4-3 overall and remain undefeated in the North Atlantic Conference at 4-0-2. The Badgers drop to 0-11 on the season and 0-6 in the conference.
Husson dominated the first 18 minutes of the game, totaling a combined nine shots to Johnson State's one. Finally, Jimmy Fitzpatrick took a nice through ball from Joshua Bean down the left side of the field and placed a strike with his left foot just out of the reach of Johnson State goalkeeper Sam Martin to put Husson ahead 1-0.
Less than two minutes later however, Cory Chase of Johnson State provided the equalizer after corralling a blocked shot and slipping it past Brian Potter to knot it up at 1-1. The rest of the first half was an even back and forth battle between the two; Husson would total nine shots and Johnson would tally four.
Coming out of the break, Husson was clearly the more aggressive team, and it paid off in time. In the 47th minute Mike Desmond was in the right place at the right time and took a blocked Charles Bujambi shot and skipped it to the other side of the net to a wide open Fitzpatrick who obliged and netted the game winner, and his second goal of the afternoon.
The game remained physical on both sides, but neither team was able to find the back of the net, and the Eagles managed to hold on despite several chances by the Badgers. Potter earned the win in net and finished the day with six saves, while Martin was handed the loss and also finished with six saves.
The Eagles will take on first place New England College on Saturday the 12th at home in a battle that will likely decide home-field advantage. The Badgers will take a break from conference action and travel to SUNY Canton on Wednesday.