Men's Soccer: Eideh nets overtime winner to give Rivier a 3-2 win over Wheelock

(Boston, Mass.) At the 97:31 mark, senior Ben Noelk's (Georgetown, Mass.) crossed the ball to a charging Carlo Eideh (Salem, N.H.) who headed the ball past a diving goalie handed first year Head Coach Hayden Barbosa his first career win as the Raiders defeated Wheelock College this evening, 3-2, at a rainy Windsor Field. Rivier evens out their 2017 record at 1-1 while the Wildcats remain winless at 0-2.

Rivier started the game quickly when freshman Pedro Lopez (Methuen, Mass.) headed the ball off a redirected cross and managed to slip it past the goalie in the seventh minute. After 20 minutes of scoreless action, the Wildcats finally answered when Ian Sobral (Sao Paolo, Brazil) sent a cross into the middle of the field and sophomore Griffin Brunnette (Hampton, N.H.) headed it home to tie the game at one.

Rivier quickly answered in the 34th minute, when Matt Wolski (Tyngsboro, Mass.) received a pass from Eideh to take the lead 2-1. Despite continuous pressure by the Wildcats, Wheelock was held scoreless for the rest of the first half.

The Raiders put pressure on Wheelock early in the second half with four shots and two on goal. Goalie Jordan Bernard (Westbrook, Conn.) was able to keep Rivier at bay until Sobral sent a screamer curling to the upper corner of the goal from 30 yards. With that goal, Sobral was able to score his first collegiate goal and tie the game 2-2.

In the remaining 28 minutes, the game saw back-and-forth action with the Raiders taking four shots and the Wildcats taking six, including an open look at goal from just outside the box from Pasulayman Sowe (Lynn, Mass.) which sailed just high. After 90 minutes, the game was still tied and would be decided in sudden death overtime.

Both teams had a slow start to the overtime with only one shot in the first seven minutes before Eideh netted the winner. The Wildcats outshot Rivier 20-19.

The Raiders will have a day of rest before heading to Hartford, Connecticut for another non-conference contest at Trinity College on Tuesday night.