Box Score

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Senior midfielder Victor Hernandez (Rye Brook, N.Y.) capped off Southern Connecticut State University men's soccer team's Senior Night with the game-winning goal to give the Owls a 3-2 win over Merrimack on Friday night. With the win, the Owls improve to 12-2-2 on the season, and 9-2-2 in NE-10 play while Merrimack drops to 9-7-1 on the year, and 5-7-1 in the NE-10. 

Merrimack got on the board first when Franklin Pena scored just 7:08 into the game to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead. 

The Owls answered when freshman forward Doural Scott (New Haven, Conn.) found the back of the net at the 22:56 mark of the first half. Hernandez delivered the assist on the goal. 

Merrimack retook the lead 8:39 into the second half, as Pena received a pass from Adam Leone and scored his second goal of the game. 

SCSU tied the game in dramatic fashion when Paul Templeton (Saltcoats, Scotland) scored on a penalty kick 22:53 into the second half. 

The Owls took their first lead of the game when Hernandez received a pass from fellow senior Harry Appiah (Pawtucket, R.I.), and drilled the game-winning goal into the back of the net to put SCSU ahead, 3-2. 

Hernandez, Appiah and senior goalkeeper Chris Rybacki were honored during the Senior Night ceremony prior to the game. 

Junior goalkeeper Andrew Esposito (East Haven, Conn.) made three saves in the winning effort.

For Merrimack, Kevin Joyce made six saves. 

The Owls will return to action when they begin the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament. The time and SCSU's opponent for it's quarterfinal game is still to be determined.