Men’s Soccer Erupt for 5-2 Win over Southern Vermont

Bennington, VT – Two late goals by Southern Vermont were not enough to overcome the Vermont Tech Men's Soccer team in a 5-2 win in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams were able to make offensive advances in the early going, but it was the Green Knights who struck first to take the quick lead. Vermont Tech worked the ball into the Mountaineers' end of the field, a pass towards the top of the box was flicked by the head of sophomore Phillip Hepburn (Milton, VT) towards the right side; senior Joaquin Currier-Cubero (Danville, VT) ran onto it, took a touch and fired the ball into the lower left corner, his fourth goal of the season putting Vermont Tech up 1-0 at 6 minutes into the game.

Vermont Tech add to its lead with 23:51 to go in the first half. Sophomore Matthew Brien (Colchester, VT) sent the ball into the center of the box from about 50 yards out on a direct kick, freshman Troy Girard (Hillsboro, NH)) was able to get a head on it and flicked it high over SVC goalkeeper Noah Chami and just out of reach to put VTC on top 2-0.

Currier-Cubero finished the first half adding his second goal of the match when he banged home a loose ball in the box from the right side, sending the game to halftime with Vermont Tech up 3-0.

Vermont Tech continued to attack Southern Vermont's defense as a penalty kick was awarded to the Green Knights when a foul occurred in the box on a Hepburn corner kick. Brien stepped up to take the kick and converted for his first goal of the season, and helped Vermont Tech go up 4-0.

A few minutes later, Sophomore Tommy Couillard (Colchester, VT), played a through ball up the middle to Hepburn. A few touches later Hepburn was on a fast break and going one on one with Mountaineers' keeper Chami. Hepurn staying in control, waited for Chami to make the first move. As soon as he did, Hepburn chipped it high and right under the cross bar to put Vermont Tech up 5-0 in the 50^th minute.

Late in the game, SVC made a charge at Vermont Tech's defense.  Mahat Abdulllahi notched a goal on a cross by Nikolas Joseph who sent the ball in from the left side. The pass found Abdullahi in the middle of the box, and he took the necessary touch for an open look at net; the shot was sent into the back of the frame to get the Mountaineers on the board with 15:26 left to go.

Joseph then tallied a goal to cut the deficit, firing an unassisted shot from about 45 yards away in the center of the pitch; and dropped  just under the crossbar, over Senior  Darian Calverley (Attleboro, MA) making it a 5-2 game. That score would hold as Vermont Tech was able to close out the victory over SVC.

Calverley made four saves on the day for the Green Knights, and Chami had one for the Mountaineers.

Next up: Vermont Tech will continue on the road as they travel to SUNY Delhi for a 3pm kick off tomorrow September 20, 2015.