September 23, 2012
THE EQUALIZER
Fernandes gives Stony Brook men 1-1 tie

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - Senior Leonardo Fernandes scored an 87th-minute goal that served as the equalizer in the Stony Brook men's 1-1 draw with Central Connecticut State at the CCSU Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon.

The Seawolves are unbeaten over their last five matches .

"It was a game where we had the better of the chances," Stony Brook coach Ryan Anatol said. "But we played a team that was content to defend. We gave up a goal, and we allowed them to sit back and defend. However, our guys were resilient and kept pushing forward and kept creating chances. We got the tying goal, which was a good goal, and we had another chance late to win, but we couldn't finish off our chances."

The visitors struck in the 45th minute, CCSU's Eddy Bogle crossed the ball to Jesse Menzies, who beat his defender and placed the ball into the top right of the goal to put the Blue Devils on top.

In the 87th minute, freshman Martin Giordano (Weston, Fla.) squeezed the ball to Fernandes (North Babylon, N.Y.), who was on top of the penalty area. He turned against his defenders and slashed a shot from about 12 yards past goalkeeper Anthony Occhialini far post for the equalizer.

A minute later, freshman Sverre Ofstad (Oppegaard, Norway) received a cross from freshman Alejandro Fritz (Budapest, Hungary) and had clear sight of the net, but his shot from the left heading towards the right corner of the net was saved by a diving Occhialini.

Fernandes has a goal in each of the last four matches and at least a point in 13 of his last 15 matches. He tied Charlie Matos (1985-88) for third all-time in Stony Brook history in career goals with 28.

Senior goalkeeper Stefan Manz (Bronx, N.Y.) made eight saves in net, one shy of his career high.

Stony Brook begins conference play at Albany at 5 p.m. Saturday.