MANCHESTER, N.H. Senior Alec Cerquiera (Peabody, Mass.) potted his team-leading fifth goal of the season, but it was not enough as American International College dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 5 Southern New Hampshire in Northeast-10 men's soccer action this evening.

AIC falls to 3-3-1 on the year and 1-2-1 in the NE-10 while the Penmen remain perfect and improve to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in league action.

SNHU opened the scoring late in the first-half as sophomore Matt Crowley (Cumberland, Maine) won the scramble for a loss ball in the box and blasted an 8-yarder into the back of the net just 38 ticks before the buzzer for the 1-0 lead.

The Jackets came right back in the early moments of the second-half, however, as on a free-kick junior Juan Correa (Wellington, Fla.) sent the ball into the box andCerquieraleaped high into the air to head the ball just inside the left post for the 1-1 tie in the 51st minute.

The Penmen had a golden chance to tilt the score in their favor in the 72nd minute as a great corner ball was fed in and senior Sebastian Stezewski's (New Britain, Conn.) quick chip shot was punched away by AIC junior keeper Sebastian Tamayo (Stratford, Conn.) to preserve the tie.

After numerous chances in the final 10 minutes of play by Southern New Hampshire were stonned by Tamayo, the Penmen finally tilted the game in their favor in the 85th minute.

After a handball in the box awarded a penalty kick to the Penmen, Tamayo stuffed the bid by graduate student Sofiane Tergou (Bitche, France), the rebound found the foot of Stezewski and he placed the ball into the net for the 2-1 edge.

Tamayo stopped eight shots in the defeat while his counterpart, senior Nick Zucco (Ludlow, Mass.) made one save in the victory.

SNHU outshot the visitors 25-4 including 10-2 on target and also held the 5-2 edge in corner kicks.

AIC returns to action on Tuesday as they host Southern Connecticut at the friendly confines of Ronald J. Abdow Field.