SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Senior Alec Cerquiera (Peabody, Mass.) netted a goal in the 55th minute, however, it was not enough as the American International College men's soccer team dropped their season opener, 1-0, in non-conference action against Concordia this afternoon from Ronald J. Abdow Field.
The Clippers (1-0) started the scoring early as junior Ovan Oakley (Kingston, Jamaica) beat the defense and raced toward the box where he was met by a sliding Sebastian Tamayo (Stratford, Conn.) to break it up, but sophomore Nabeel Qawasmi (Yonkers, N.Y.) found the loose ball and fired it into the open net for the 1-0 lead in the 13th minute.
Just three minutes later AIC (0-1) had a good bid to tie the contest as junior Juan Correa (Wellington, Fla.) found Cerqueira whose shot sailed just over the crossbar and out of harm's way.
In the 38th minute the Jackets again had a chance for the equalizer as junior Dan Belair (Taunton, Mass.) generated a scoring chance by passing to Correa in the middle of the box and he chipped it on to senior Ed Sharman (Tunbridge Wells, Englad), but his bid to pick the near corner went just wide.
The Clippers added to their lead in the 41st minute as junior Javier Alvarez Vispo (La Coruna, Spain) bent a free kick into the near corner just past the dive of Tamayo for the 2-0 edge.
American International came out of the break with more intensity and it was seen immediately as they possessed the ball and generated numerous scoring chances.
AIC cut the deficit in half in the 55th minute as sophomore Haden Cordeiro (Dartmouth, Mass.) found Cerquiera on the left side of the box and the senior made a defender miss and shot near post beating the keeper for the 2-1 score.
Just three minutes later is was again Cerquiera who hustled to get into position for a pass from Sharman to the middle of the box, but his header was stuffed by Concordia senior goalkeeper Ruel Gordon (Savanna La Mar, Jamaica) to preserve the one goal advantage.
The Clippers added to that score in the 75th minute on a corner attempt as senior Jesus Alvarez Riesco (La Coruna, Spain) sent a beautiful ball into the box that was headed home by junior James Walters (Westmoreland, Jamiaca) for the 3-1 victory.
Tamayo stopped four shots in the setback while Gordon made five saves in the victory as AIC outshot the visitors 11-10, however, Concordia led with a 7-6 clip on target.
AIC returns to action on Wednesday as they host Mercy at 7 p.m.
