BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Freshman forward
Givanchy Durandisse (Easton, PA/Wilson) put away the game winning goal with a header off a cross from
Abubakery Fofana (Allentown, PA/William Allen) with just under two minutes remaining, as the Spartans upended previously unbeaten Union College of Union County New Jersey, 2-1, on Tuesday afternoon in Region 19 men's soccer action at Spartan Field.
UCNJ opened the scoring in the first half with an unassisted goal at 33:37 and carried the, 1-0, lead over the Spartans into the intermission.
Both teams traded chances in a back and forth second half before the Spartans were able to break through with a goal by
Colton Ruzicka (Palmerton, PA/Palmerton) at 9:14 to knot the score, 1-1. Ruzicka found the back of the goal for his first score of the season in front of a crowded net, banging his shot off the top post and into the goal just past the diving UCNJ goalkeeper.
Durandisse followed with his game winner just a few moments later as the Spartans went on to hand UCNJ their first loss of the season.
"Really proud of our kids today and how they hung in there and played right to the end," explained Spartans Head Coach
Mario Barrantes, "Being down early I still felt we were right in there and Colton's goal gave us the late life we needed. Givanchy nailed the game winner off a beautiful cross from Abubakery and we were able to hold on for the win. Great effort across the board today and we did what we needed to do to get the win."
Martin Severo (Allentown, PA/William Allen) was again solid in goal for the Spartans with 3 saves.
Northampton improves to 2-5-2 overall and 2-5-2 in Region 19 with the victory.
Union College on Union County New Jersey is now 2-1-5 overall and 2-1-5 in the Region following the loss.
The Spartans are back in action on Saturday, October 3rd when they travel to Paramus, New Jersey for a Region 19 match up with Bergen Community College at 12pm at the Bulldogs Soccer Complex.
