There’s just something about beating a team named the Catamounts that makes victory taste extra sweet. Sure Saturday’s 2-0 win over America East rival University of Vermont (4-3-1, 0-1 AE) was just one win for the Northeastern men’s soccer team (2-5-0, 1-0 AE) but it sure feels good seeing the Huskies on the winning end of shutout.
“It was definitely good,” said coach Ed Matz. “It was a much needed win for our overall psyche.”
Before their conference opening win, the Dogs had been shutout in every game but one, and seemed completely unable to find the net. Senior forward Michael Cipriano and junior forward Julian Daniels made sure that trend would not continue by adding a goal each in the win.
After spending the first half exchanging possessions with Vermont, Northeastern came out on all cylinders after the break and finally ended their two-game scoring drought. Just four minutes into the second half, Daniels found himself surrounded by Catamount defenders 10 yards from the net. With a swift move, Daniels emerged from the crowd with just enough space to blast a shot that sailed past the lunging UVM senior keeper, David Sullivan, and landed in the upper right corner of the net. It was Daniels’ first goal of the season and the Huskies’ third.
Northeastern’s fourth goal of the season would come with 11 minutes remaining when Cipriano got loose on a breakaway and slipped a shot past Sullivan for his second goal of the season. After the goal the senior casually made his way over to the corner flag and struck a Terrell Owens-like pose before being stormed by his teammates.
“When [Cipriano] gets hot, he’s hot,” said senior captain Joey Parrish. “I hope he scores every game so we can see more of that kind of stuff.”
Northeastern out-shot UVM 16-10 in the victory, while their junior keeper, Sergio Saccoccio, made five saves en route to his first shutout of the season.
“It felt good to get the shutout for [Saccoccio],” Parrish said. “He’s played so well all season.”
The Huskies’ next game is this Wednesday at 3 p.m. when they play host to non-conference foe St. Peter’s before the next America East game Saturday at Albany.
“We know now that it’s an eight game season,” Matz said. “Four more wins and we’re in the playoffs.”
