Rockville Centre, N.Y. – The Molloy men's soccer fought tooth and nail Wednesday evening but eventually fell to the Penmen of Southern New Hampshire University, 4-3, at John A. Darcy Field. The Lions move to 2-8-3 on the season, while the Penmen improve to 6-1-3 on the campaign.
 
How it Happened

• Molloy had the first shot of the evening off the foot of junior Diogo Ferreira that sailed high 3:11 into the contest.
• Southern New Hampshire created two chances, one in the ninth minute that was blocked and the follow up in the 10^th minute that was sent high.
• 11 minutes would go by until until the Penmen created another chance, but the backline of the Lions would block it.
• In the 28^th minute after coming off the bench. Senior Ryan Dobson made a move down the right side, cut into the box, and found senior Andy Blanco who fired it into the back of the net off his left foot to put Molloy in front, 1-0.
• Five minutes later, SNHU won a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box. The free kick was blocked by a wall of defenders and the follow up rebound was also blocked preventing the Penmen from cracking the scoreboard.
• The away team generated its best chance of the opening half in the 41^st minute. Forward Sam Johnson streaked in and fired a shot that rang off the left post, sending the contest into halftime with Molloy ahead, 1-0.
• 6:31 into the second stanza, the away team drew a penalty inside the box to set up a penalty kick. Rafa Escobedo of the Penmen fired the attempt, but graduate student Dennis Mejia made a diving save to left to keep the visitors off the scoreboard.
• Over the next 10 minutes of action, Southern New Hampshire generated four shots with two coming on target. Mejia denied both shots on goal to keep the Lions in front.
• The away team earned a second penalty kick in the 62^nd minute. This time, Nicolas Gonzalez converted the opportunity to knot the contest at one.
• 10 minutes would go by until Molloy would respond. Dobson was found inside the 6-yard box with a header attempt and follow up chance that were both saved, but Ferreira was able to corral a rebound and score to reclaim the Lions' lead, 2-1, with 18:44 to play.
• The Penmen tied the contest at two in the 79^th minute following a goal from Iago Perez.
• Molloy looked for the go-ahead goal on the two minutes later, but graduate student Nicolay Kutzop sent his running header just wide of the far post.
• With 5:19 remaining in the contest, Southern New Hampshire would find its third goal of the contest from Perez to pull ahead, 3-2.
• The Penmen would add an insurance goal in the 88^th minute to take a 4-2 advantage.
• The cardinal and white would net a goal with 15 seconds remaining in the contest when sophomore Colin Gervasi scored on a rebound opportunity to bring the Lions within one, 4-3.
• The Lions would run out of time as the Penmen would hold on to win, 4-3.

Top Performances

• Ferreira netted his second goal of the season.
• Blanco and Gervasi tallied its first goals of the season.
• Dobson dished out one assist while collecting two shots on goal.
• In goal, Mejia made four saves.

Up Next
Molloy returns to conference play Saturday (Oct. 14) as they travel to Dobbs Ferry to take on Mercy. The ECC matchup is set for 12:00 p.m.