Rockville Centre, N.Y. -  The Molloy men's soccer team played to a 1-1 draw, but fell in penalty kicks, 5-3, to Mercy College Sunday afternoon in the ECC Final at John A. Darcy Field. The Lions conclude the season 8-4-8, while Mercy moved to 12-2-5.
 
How it Happened

• Molloy struck early on a corner kick. Junior Jonas Jacobsen sent a ball to the far post that junior Ryan Dobson buried into the net, to put Molloy ahead, 1-0, in the 6^th minute.
• Over the next 18 minutes of play the Mavericks generated three shots, but all three we blocked by the Molloy backline of defense.
• Sophomore Matt Laya-Vatell generated a scoring chance, but his shot was saved by Mercy goalkeeper Eirik Elvestad.
• In the 33^rd minute, Mercy had its best scoring chance of the half. A crossing pass from the left flank found a crossing Mateo Bacigalupo who fired it at the net, but graduate student Nick Conklu made a diving save to keep the Mavericks off the scoreboard.
• The Lions had one more chance in the 44^th minute, but a header from graduate student Nicolay Kutzop went wide. Molloy led, 1-0, at the half.
• The second half began with Molloy garnering three shots. One was blocked, one went wide, and the final shot was saved in the 52^nd minute.
• Mercy picked up the offensive pressure over the next 14 minutes but could not generate a shot on target.
• In the 68^th minute, the Mavericks drew a foul in the 18-yard box to set up a penalty kick. Martin Penafiel stepped to the spot and fired, but Conklu denied the opportunity to keep Molloy in front, 1-0.
• Seven minutes later, Vasco Baptista had his header denied by Conklu as Mercy began to ramp up the offensive pressure.
• With 1:20 to play in regulation the road team swung a ball into the 18-yard box and was deflected off a Molloy defender and into the back of the net to knot the contest at one. The ECC Final headed to overtime.
• The first overtime period was dominated by Mercy firing five shots in 10 minutes. Conklu made two pivotal saves to keep the game tied at one.
• In the second overtime period Dobson fired a header on net in the first minute, but the shot was saved.
• The 108^th minute saw a shot by forward David Breitenbach was saved by Conklu. After 110 minutes of soccer, the final would be determined in a penalty-kick shootout.
• The Mavericks would go on to net five penalty kicks in the shootout to clinch the victory, 5-4.

Top Performances

• Dobson netted a goal
• Conklu made nine saves.

Up Next
The Lions will await the NCAA selection show, in anticipation to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA East Regional. For any information pertaining to the men's soccer program, visit www.molloylions.com.