Box Score

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The Southern Connecticut State University men's soccer team defeated No. 15 Merrimack College 2-1 on Saturday afternoon thanks to two goals from Chae Brangman (St. George's, Bermuda). 

With the win, the Owls improve to 6-3-1 overall and 5-1-1 in the conference, while Merrimack falls to 7-2-2 and 3-2-2.

Brangman started the scoring in the 6th minute. Ignacio Navarro (Norwalk, Conn.) sent a pass into the box towards Louis Greenway-Tambini (Nottingham, England) who chipped it along further to Brangman. Brangman fired a shot from about 10 yards out past the Warrior keeper Lucas Rezende for his first goal of the game and second of the year. 

Merrimack responded in the 40th minute when leading goal scorer Augusto Silva scored his seventh goal of the year off a free kick. He was in the middle of the box as the ball was headed towards him by Jaime Cortes Torres. Silva one-timed the pass past Noah Varonier (Miller Place, N.Y.), tying him for the conference lead in goals with Greenway-Tambini.

In the 74th minute, Rezende was called for a foul and given a yellow card for making a diving save in the box, taking out an Owl attacker. Brangman was awarded a penalty kick, which he converted. He shot the ball to the left post - Rezende dove the opposite way.

The goals were the first for Brangman since September 12 against Le Moyne. He is the reigning Northeast-10 Rookie of the Year as well as being named to the NE-10 All-Conference Third Team. He scored six goals and added four assists last year. His offensive presence is much needed for the Owls as they approach the home stretch of their schedule. Southern Connecticut is currently third in the NE-10 and they have yet to play the three other teams in the top four: Southern New Hampshire, Adelphi and Bentley.

The Owls also get a small amount of redemption from the win - Merrimack eliminated SCSU from the NCAA Tournament last year.

Southern Connecticut returns to action on Tuesday when they travel to Bentley.