BOSTON, Mass. – Lesley University junior Nuno Pereira (Dorchester, Mass.) picked an opportune time for his first goal in a Lynx uniform as his marker in double-overtime lifted the Lynx to a 2-1 victory over host Suffolk University tonight at James A. Sartori Stadium.
Pereira sent the ball in after a cluster in the front of the Rams net on the heels of a Lynx corner kick to give Lesley their first win of the season as they improve to 1-3-0 on the season. The setback shifts the Rams to 1-3-0 overall.
Neither side wasted any time going on the offensive in the first half as Lesley goalkeeper James Webb (San Francisco, Calif.) was forced to make a key save on a shot from Suffolk senior Alberto Bittan (Venezuela) just 19-seconds into the contest.
The Lynx would get rolling on a counter off a Suffolk corner kick when Pereira was fouled in the Rams' box, giving the guests a penalty kick opportunity. Senior Chris Anderson (San Francisco, Calif.) would bury the PK with a shot into the right side of the net for his marker of the season, giving Lesley a 1-0 advantage in the sixth minute.
The Rams would respond just two minutes later with a penalty kick of their own. After a foul in the Lesley box, senior Aaron Haggas (London) drilled his penalty chance to even the match at 1-1.
Both teams would continue to press but would not be able to break through as Webb made another one of his eight saves on the night in the tenth minute before Suffolk defended two consecutive Lesley corner kicks in the 18th.
The game was evenly played throughout as Lesley held a slim advantage in shots (17-15) and corner kick opportunities (6-4). The match was riddled with stoppages as the two sides combined for 53 fouls and seven yellow cards.
The Lynx will return home on Thursday for the tenth annual Charles River Cup against Emerson College at 8:00p at Edward Field. Lesley holds a 5-4 edge over the Lions in the previous nine matchups. Suffolk will hit the road and travel to Pine Manor College at 3:30p on Wednesday.