New Britain, Conn. - Senior Leonardo Fernandes (North Babylon, N.Y.) scored an 87th minute goal that served as the equalizer in the Stony Brook men's soccer team's 1-1 draw versus Central Connecticut State Sunday afternoon at the CCSU Soccer Complex. The Seawolves are unbeaten over their last five matches

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Coach Ryan Anatol's Reaction
"It was a game where we had the better of the chances. But we played a team that was content to defend. We gave up a goal, and we allowed them to sit back and defend. However, our guys were resilient and kept pushing forward and kept creating chances. We got the tying goal, which was a good goal, and we had another chance late to win, but we couldn't finish off our chances."



Goal Recaps

• Just before halftime in the 45th minute, CCSU's Eddy Bogle crossed the ball to Jesse Menzies, who beat his defender and placed the ball into the top right of the goal to put the Blue Devils on top.
• In the 87th minute, freshman Martin Giordano (Weston, Fla.) squeezed the ball to Fernandes, who was on top of the box, turned against his defenders and slashed a shot from about 12 yards out past CCSU goalkeeper Anthony Occhialini far post for the equalizer.

Note: In the 88th minute, freshman Sverre Ofstad (Oppegaard, Norway) received a cross from freshman Alejandro Fritz (Budapest, Hungary) and had clear sight of the net, but his shot from the left heading towards the right corner of the net was saved by a diving Occhialini. The shot would have been the game-winner had Occhialini not stopped it.

The Numbers Game

• Fernandes now has a goal in each of the last four matches and at least a point in 13 of his last 15 matches.
• Fernandes ties Charlie Matos (1985-88) for third all-time in Stony Brook history in career goals with 28.
• Giordano has now a point in each of his last three matches.
• Senior Stefan Manz (Bronx, N.Y.) made eight saves in net, one shy of his career high.

News & Notes

• Stony Brook is now 1-0-2 all-time against CCSU.
• The last tie against the Blue Devils came in 2005, also in New Britain. The Seawolves went on to win the America East regular season and tournament championships that year.
• This is Stony Brook's first five-match unbeaten streak since going unbeaten over six matches from Sept. 12, 2010 to Sept. 29, 2010 (5-0-1).


Up Next

Stony Brook begins conference play next Saturday at Albany at 5 p.m.