SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College men's soccer team played a tight contest but came up short against No. 6 Merrimack College on Saturday, September 22.


FAST FACTS:
Final score: AIC 0, No. 6 Merrimack 1
Records: AIC moves to 1-5 overall and 0-4 in the NE10; Merrimack is now 5-1 and 2-1 in the NE10.
Where: Ronald J. Abdow Field - Springfield, Massachusetts

Winning goalie: Tyler Packett, Merrimack (5-1)
Losing goalie: Nicholas Romei, AIC (0-2).


STATS LEADERS:
AIC:
Nicholas Romei (two saves)
Jake Durham (four shots, two shots on goal)
Felipe Novelini (two shots on goal)

Merrimack:
Tola Showunmi (one goal)
Lars Sund (one assist)
Filippo Begliardi Ghidini (six shots, three shots on goal)
Tyler Packett (four saves, shutout)


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After a 0-0 first half, AIC came out buzzing to begin the second half, with junior forward Felipe Novelini putting back-to-back shots on goal in the 46^th and 48^th minutes.
• Merrimack's Filippo Begliardi Ghidini began swarming the Yellow Jackets about 10 minutes later, with a great header opportunity stopped by AIC senior goalie Nicholas Romei. Minutes later, he sent a shot wide; about three minutes after that, sophomore back Stefan Balan dove in to stop a shot from Begliardi Ghidini.
• Aasmund Joehdal had a shot that bounced off the crossbar in the 62^nd minute; junior captain Jake Durham countered a few minutes later with a great chance that was scooped up by Merrimack goalie Tyler Packett.
• The Warriors finally broke the deadlock in the 71^st minute off Tola Showunmi's third goal of the year.
• Though Merrimack had a significant advantage in shots overall (16-7), the teams were equal in their opportunities on net, with each getting four shots on goal.

BUZZWORTHY:

• AIC's opponents have not allowed it to score a goal in the past five games; however, the Yellow Jackets have held their opponent to just one goal in three of those games.
• Durham has recorded multiple shots in five consecutive games; his four shots in tonight's game is a season high. He leads the team in total shots (15) and shots on goal (7)
• Junior Felipe Novelini has recorded multiple shots in each of his five games this year.

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets continue their NE10 home swing with a matchup against the University of New Haven on Tuesday, September 25.
• Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
• AIC will continue its Cultural Celebration Nights, with Greece Night scheduled for Tuesday.

STAY CONNECTED:

• For more updates about the AIC men's soccer team, follow @AICMSOCCER on Twitter and Instagram and like AIC Men's Soccer on Facebook. For updates on all AIC Yellow Jackets teams, follow @AICAthletics on Twitter and Instagram, and like AIC Yellow Jackets on Facebook.