Box Score DUDLEY, Mass. – A goal in the 88th minute by Elms College freshman Tom Ferruolo (Arlington, Vt.) lifted the Blazers to a 2-1 men's soccer victory over host Nichols College in the two teams' season opener Wednesday afternoon. Ferruolo broke an 81-minute stalemate when his shot from the far right corner deflected off a Nichols' defender's head and past first-year netminder Brendan Hamilton (North Attleboro, Mass.).
The Bison took the lead just 33 seconds into the game and held a 4-3 shot-on-goal advantage at the half, but were hampered by a red card call in the 42nd minute, forcing the team to play down a player for the remainder of the game.
Mark Capitanio (Mansfield, Mass.) put Nichols on the board after converting a long feed from Ryan Wytrych (Feeding Hills, Mass.), who sent the ball from midfield.
Nick Bamford (Ludlow, Mass.) evened the score for the Blazers in the seventh minute, scoring on a long direct kick.
The remainder of the first half featured physical play, including 15 combined fouls and five cards issued.
Despite playing down a man in the second half, Nichols held the Blazers to two shots in the frame. Ben Masse (Chicopee, Mass.) threatened early in the stanza after stripping the ball from a defender at midfield and carrying it into the box, but the threat was ended with a wide shot.
Nichols picked up momentum late in the game, with Eric Kelly (Dover Plains, N.Y.) hitting a header off a corner in the 82nd minute, but Elms netminder Ryan Sullivan (Agawam, Mass.) came out to capture the ball. Less than a minute later, Sean Dorgan's (Methuen, Mass.) header off a long service from Wytrych sailed just high.
Sullivan earned the win in his collegiate debut with six saves, while Hamilton took the loss in his first career game with three saves.
Nichols maintained a 5-1 corner kick advantage, while fouls were close at 13-12 in favor of the Bison.
Nichols is back in action on Saturday, September 6, in a 10 a.m. game at Fitchburg State. Elms hosts Framingham State Saturday at 1 p.m.
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