Molloy University Athletics

Rockville Centre, N.Y. – The third-seeded Molloy men's soccer team advanced to the ECC Semifinal after playing the sixth-seeded UDC Firebirds to a 2-2 draw before earning a 4-1 victory in a penalty-kick shootout Thursday evening at John A. Darcy Field. The Lions improve to 5-3-8 on the season, while the Firebirds conclude their campaign 8-5-5.
 
How it Happened

• UDC capitalized on their first shot of the contest, finding the back of the net in the eighth minute to take a 1-0 lead.
• Molloy nearly found the equalizer in the 14^th minute when sophomore Jack Veletanga put a shot on target that was saved by UDC goalkeeper Lorenzo Herrera.
• The Lions evened the score two minutes later. Veletanga delivered a free kick from the left side of the 18-yard box and graduate student Matt Star redirected the attempt into the back of the net to make it a 1-1 contest.
• Just 33 seconds later, the Firebirds looked to reclaim the lead, but senior Anthony Martinez denied Christopher Ruiz.
• The contest settled into a possession battle until the 30^th minute, when UDC capitalized on a corner kick after David Serra finished an out swinging service to put the Firebirds ahead, 2-1.
• With under a minute remaining in the first half, freshman Mael Pierre Paul fired a shot on goal, but his attempt was saved as the Lions entered halftime behind, 2-1.
• Molloy controlled much of the second half in their search for the equalizer.
• In the opening 15 minutes of the second stanza, the Lions recorded five corner kicks and four shots while maintaining 85 percent of the possession.
• The cardinal and white continued to pressure the UDC back line through the 72^nd minute, adding three more shots.
• Molloy final broke through in the 76^th minute. Veletanga found Pierre Paul in the heart of the 18-yard box, and the freshman finished to bring the contest level at two.
• In the 85^th minute, UDC looked to steal a late goal, but Martinez made a comfortable save on Marius Elmose.
• The home team generated the final opportunity of regulation in the 87t minute. Star settled down the ball, dribbled forward, and fired from 40 yards out, but his attempt was saved, sending the contest into overtime.
• The first overtime period featured just one shot, coming from Elmose in the 96^th minute following a free kick that struck the crossbar.
• With the contest still deadlocked in the second overtime, UDC was called for a foul inside the 18-yard box with 35 seconds remaining, awarding Molloy a penalty kick.
• Junior Charlie Morgan stepped to the spot and fired, but Herrera made a diving save to his left to send the contest to a penalty-kick shootout.
• Veletanga opened the shootout with a successful attempt before UDC converted their first opportunity to even the score at 1-1.
• Senior Yahel Caudillo Paramo converted in the second round to put Molloy ahead, and Martinez followed with a save to maintain the Lions' advantage.
• Star buried his attempt in the third round before Martinez recorded another save, putting the Lions one successful attempt award from victory.
• Junior Brennan Murphy stepped up in the fourth round and blasted his attempt into the right corner to secure the shootout victory and send the cardinal and white to the ECC Semifinal.

• Pierre Paul recorded his fourth goal of the season and led the Lions with three shots on goal, while Star netted his second goal of the campaign.
• Veletanga dished out a career-high two assists.
• In goal, Martinez recorded four saves across 110 minutes of play before making two additional stops in the penalty-kick shootout 

Up Next
The Lions advance to the ECC Semifinal and will travel to Buffalo, New York, Sunday, November 1 to take on second-seeded D'Youville at 7:00 p.m.