Men's Soccer falls on Senior Night but reaches NE10 Tournament

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - From pride to heartbreak to elation, the American International College men's soccer team ran the gamut of emotions during its Senior Day matchup on Tuesday, October 31, a Northeast-10 Conference battle with Southern New Hampshire University won 1-0 by the Penmen. Despite the setback, the team earned a spot in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Tournament.

AIC concludes the regular season at 3-6-8 with a 3-4-3 NE10 mark.

The game began with a ceremony to honor the team's nine graduating seniors.

AIC thought that it had a 1-0 lead early in the first half on a two-on-none breakaway, but the play was called back as offside.

That proved critical, as the Penmen struck next. Iago Perez took a through ball on the left side of the box and slotted it home at 25:24. 

In the second half, AIC ramped up the pressure, and late in regulation drew a penalty kick, but Preston Neal made a diving save to his left to preserve the shutout, and AIC did not manage another significant chance the rest of the way.

Lucas Morales Fernandez made nine save in the contest.

With the loss, the Yellow Jackets were faced with the possibility of missing the postseason. Once the final results were tallied, AIC found itself just over the line, winning a tiebreaker for the eighth and final postseason berth.

That matchup will be with the defending national champion and current national No. 1, Franklin Pierce University, at Sodexo Field in Rindge, New Hampshire, at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 4.