HAMDEN, Conn. – Umechi Akuazaoku's goal in the 85th minute sent the St. Bonaventure University men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory on the road Saturday afternoon against Quinnipiac.
After being turned away by the Quinnipiac goalkeeper twice in the 83rd minute, Akuazaoku stayed aggressive to find the game-winning goal just moments later.
Gabriel Addo punched forward a Quinnipiac goal kick into the open field where Akuazaoku took control and rocketed home the game-winning goal from just outside the box.
"We battled hard today and remained poised in the second half," Bonnies head coach Kwame Oduro said. "Our team fought for each other and that was great to see."
The Bonnies (2-3) took their first lead of the contest in the 58th minute following a scoreless first half.
Mo Tall cut through the center of the field and found Daniel Helle down the right side. Helle delivered a low cross through to the far post where Keegan Dawson was uncovered and the senior slotted smashed home the goal.
Playing with the lead, Tall looked to make it 2-0 in the 65th minute from outside the box, but his shot sailed high of the net.
The Bobcats (1-3), however, found the equalizer in the 73rd minute when Joao Pinto scored off a corner kick.
Luc Finelli tried his luck in giving the Bonnies the go-ahead goal in the 82nd minute but was turned away by Quinnipiac goalkeeper Karl Netzell.
The Bonnies had a pair of chances in the fourth minute from Addo and Xaver Ehrlich but could not come away with the opening goal.
Bona's got another look on net in the 22nd minute on a long throw-in from Dawson that found the head of Bo Drath. Netzell, however, was there to make the save.
Freshman goalkeeper Ben Choudhry, making his first career start in net, was tested for the first time in the 37th minute, turning away Quinnipiac's initial scoring chance of the contest.
Rashid Aroza and Mo Tall tested Netzell just before halftime, but the Quinnipiac goalkeeper stopped both shots and the teams went into the break scoreless.
Akuazaoku paced the Bonnies with three shots Tall and Dawson each registered two. Also tallying a shot was Drath, Ehrlich, Addo and Aroza.
Choudhry made three saves to earn his first win for the Brown and White.
The Bonnies wrap up a stretch of five straight road games Saturday, Sept. 14 when they travel to take on Little Three rival Niagara. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.
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