American International College

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - Max-Paul Busnel's double-overtime tally sent the American International College men's soccer team on, with a 3-2 win over Bentley University in the Northeast 10 Conference Semifinal on Wednesday, November 4.

AIC is now 10-5-4 on the season.

Goncalo Nolasco opened the scoring midway through the first half, heading home a Marc Tasies Minguell corner kick at the left post at 24:15 for his first of the year. 

That held up through halftime, but early in the second, Bentley tied it. Antonio Di Gaudio fired a free kick from 25 yards out in the middle of the field into the top right corner at 53:41.

AIC bounced back nearly immediately, scoring on another corner kick. This time it was Marco Cabrera serving in from the left, and Tomos Shyamapant put the loose ball home for his seventh of the season at 59:29.

The Falcons again clawed back, tying the game a second time at 77:59. Filippo Perini fired a through ball from the left side for Antonio Santos, who blasted a shot into the right side of the cage from the left edge of the box.

The 90-minute mark arrived with the score even 2-2, and the first overtime provided no winner.

In the second extra frame, AIC nearly ended it, with Busnel ringing the crossbar with a shot at 104:01. Less than a minute later, Owyn Andrews stung the ball up the right side into the box, and Busnel did not miss his second chance, firing it below the keeper and into the net for the winner, his ninth goal of the season, at 104:58.

The double overtime goal was the first for AIC in the postseason since November 4, 2019, when now-head coach Jake Durham scored to defeat then-No. 6 Adelphi University in the NE10 Quarterfinal. 

AIC and top-seeded Southern New Hampshire University will battle for the NE10 crown on Saturday, November 7 at 4:00 p.m. in Hooksett, New Hampshire.