PAXTON, Mass. – On Senior Day at AMCAT Field it was a freshman who grabbed the spotlight, as Robert Nickerson (Boylston, Mass.) scored two goals, including the game-winner in double overtime, to lift the Anna Maria College men’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Endicott College. With the win, the AMCATS close out the season with a record of 10-8 overall and 6-7 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Endicott loss knocks the Gulls out of the playoffs, as they fall to 7-10 on the season and 6-7 in the TCCC.

 

Seniors Michael Allard (Monson, Mass.), Armen Billian (Worcester, Mass.), Robert Delaney (Middleboro, Mass.), George Markopoulos (Worcester, Mass.), Matthew McKillop (Woburn, Mass.), and Michael Schofield (Auburn, Mass.) were each honored for all their contributions to Anna Maria Athletics as part of the Senior Day festivities before the start of their final match.

 

Both teams appeared evenly matched in the first period, as each club recorded five total shots including four on goal.

 

The Gulls broke through first on a goal by freshman Colin Doody (Wethersfield, MA) in the 33^rd minute of play. Doody got behind the AMC defense and collected a beautiful 50-yard pass from junior Bryan Lee (Rockport, MA) before finding the back of the net to give the Gulls a 1-0 lead.

 

Endicott took the 1-0 lead into halftime while also holding a 6-1 advantage in corners. The Gulls were led by four shots and a goal from Doody, while Enco Lika (Worcester, Mass.) paced the AMCATS with three shots.

 

With time running out and the AMCATS still trailing by one, AMC freshman Robert Nickerson (Boylston, Mass.) blasted a shot from 35 yards out and deposited it in the top shelf to tie the match, 1-1, with just six minutes remaining.

 

The match went into overtime with the score still knotted at one goal apiece. Through regulation the Gulls held a 15-10 advantage in shots and an 11-4 edge in corner kicks.

 

The first overtime was uneventful, with neither team earning a scoring opportunity.

 

The AMCATS, however, came roaring out of the gates in the second overtime. Freshman Enco Lika nearly ended the match just three minutes into the fourth period when his free-kick barely sailed over the cross bar.

 

Anna Maria kept the pressure on and earned a corner kick in the 105^th minute. Lika sent a nicely placed ball in front of the net where it was headed off the cross bar. Nickerson jumped for the rebound and headed into the goal for his second tally of the game, giving the AMCATS the thrilling 2-1 victory.