Marist men’s soccer dropped their third consecutive game, losing 3-0 at home to Sacred Heart (6-3-3, 5-0-1 MAAC). Senior midfielder Aidan Arber got dealt a red card in the 39th minute, putting his side a man down for the final 50 minutes of the game.
“I think he [the referee] was looking for something,” said head coach Matt Viggiano. “I thought we played really well… you go down a man and it becomes harder.”
Sophomore forward Ivan Morcillo scored his side’s first two goals, converting two of his three total shots. Marist (6-3-2, 2-3-0 MAAC), meanwhile, only managed three shots on target as a team, despite taking nine shots and 13 corners.
Morcillo opened the scoring in the tenth minute after the Pioneers forced a turnover and broke quickly. Sophomore forward Brady Poor played it across the face of the goal, and Morcillo had enough time and space to pick his spot, which he did not miss.
Marist worked hard to get back into the game at that point, taking four corners within four minutes, failing to generate any dangerous shots. Junior midfielder Kyle Evans had the Red Foxes’ only shot on goal of the half in this stretch, testing senior goalie Luca Marinelli in the 15th minute.
“You gotta score goals to win the game,” said Viggiano. “We gotta be a little hungrier.”
The game changed dramatically in the 39th minute as Arber received his red card, given out for colliding with a Pioneer while on the ground. A lengthy video review examined the play, but the referee decided he had enough evidence to make the call.
Controversially, freshman midfielder Miles Douglas had his jersey pulled a few moments prior without a foul called. A foul there would have stopped play and likely changed the momentum of the game.
Halftime came with Sacred Heart leading on the scoreboard and in the player quantity department. Despite this, it was either side’s game.
Neither team did a lot to open the second half, although senior midfielder Skylar Cunha picked up a yellow in the 56th minute.
“You can’t give the guy [the referee] a chance to involve himself in the game,” said Viggiano.
Sacred Heart doubled their lead in the 65th minute behind Morcillo’s second. Preseason player of the year senior midfielder David Garcia Gallego assisted with a through ball, his first of two assists on the day.
Viggiano, who received a yellow of his own in the wake of the second goal, brought on junior midfielder Arion Ulaj and senior midfielder Jonathan Salguero for senior midfielder Skylar Cunha and freshman defender Miles Douglas.
Douglas earned his second start of the season, taking the place of fellow freshman defender Will Salivonchik. Douglas slotted in at center back, moving junior defender Ethan Ortiz to the right side.
Seven minutes later, Sacred Heart bagged a third. Junior midfielder Danny Istambouli took advantage of a 4v2 counter attack with senior midfielder David Garcia Gallego dishing out the assist.
A massive wave of substitutions followed, featuring both Verheul brothers (sophomore attacker Chris and sophomore midfielder Gijs) and Evans brothers (graduate student defender Liam and junior midfielder Kyle) subbed off along with freshman attacker Adriano Iannello and sophomore defender Evan Marques.
This game marked Marist’s third consecutive loss, two of which at home and all of which in conference play.
“We’re gonna get into the playoffs and see these guys again,” said Viggiano.
The Red Foxes now sit at 2-3 in conference play with another five games to play, and are in eighth place – on the outside looking in at the playoffs.
Sacred Heart retains their place at the top of the MAAC and are in full control of their destiny as they look to hold on and secure home field advantage.
A quick turnaround is needed mentally for Marist, who head north to Merrimack for a game on Saturday, October 18th. Kickoff against the Warriors is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Edited by Michael Schiavone
Graphic and Photo by Quinn DiFiore
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