Custidiano's Goal in OT Lifts Kean
Over WPU, 2-1
Wayne, N.J.
(10/3/09). - Freshman Michael Custidiano
(Hawthorne, N.J.) scored twice, including the game winner
23 seconds into the second overtime period, as the Kean University
men's soccer team earned a 2-1 victory over host William Paterson
University Saturday afternoon.
The Pioneers (5-2-4, 0-1-3 NJAC) fired offensively early against
Cougar goalkeeper Alfredo Oquendo (North Plainfield,
N.J.). Just two minutes in, senior Jonathan
Donado (Wayne, N.J.) played a ball from the midfield to a
streaking Ambrogio Pipitone (Paramus, N.J.), who was
knocked down in the box. Junior Julian Valerio
(Manalapan, N.J.) stepped up and drilled the penalty kick to
the lower-left corner, making it a 1-0 score just 1:56 into the
first half.
Pipitone nearly added to the Pioneers' lead 90 seconds into the
second period, but Oquendo was able to make the save, and a
point-blank shot by freshman Michael Encarnacion (Franklin,
N.J.) was turned away in the 60th minute.
Kean (5-5-2, 1-3-1 NJAC) knotted the score with 18:37 remaining
when Robby Sopko (Lake Como, N.J.) sent a cross
from near the left corner flag across the frame and Custidiano
(pictured right) got his head on it. The ball skipped
off Dan Peragallo's (North Brunswick, N.J.)glove and
ricocheted off the right post and into the net, making it a 1-1
contest.
Neither team had a quality chance during the first overtime, but
the Cougars raced down the field to start the second session, and
Custidiano's cross from the right flank bounced off the shoulder of
a William Paterson defender and straight back across the goal line
for the game winner.
In goal, Oquendo had five stops for Kean while Peragallo made
six saves for the Pioneers.
The Cougars will host SUNY Old Westbury Saturday, Oct. 10, at
6:00 p.m.
