Matt Tidona
Matt Tidona

Bentley Scores Late Twice to Beat AIC, 2-1

 

Springfield, Mass. – The Bentley men's soccer team scored twice in the final 14 minutes for a come from behind, 2-1 victory over AIC on Saturday afternoon in a Northeast-10 matchup.

Goals by freshman Harrison Bourgeois (Maynard, Mass./Maynard) in the 76th minute, and junior Matt Tidona (Bellmore, N.Y./Friends Academy) in the 86th minute saw the Falcons to the key victory, which improved their NE10 record to 4-5-2 on the season for 14 points and kept them in the playoff chase with two matches remaining.

All of the match's goals occurred in the final 17-plus minutes. The Yellow Jackets took a 1-0 lead on a goal by midfielder Felipe Novelini in the 73rd, after he volleyed in a cross sent in by teammate Jeremy Fricker.

But Bentley responded less than three minutes later on Bourgeois' goal, his second in five games after he scored the winner over Saint Michael's three weeks ago. He fired in a shot to the upper corner of the net after a cut to his left for the tying goal.

Tidona then scored the winner in the 86th minute. Sophomore Connor Mote (Lisle, Ill./Benet Academy) provided the assist, with a cross that Tidona turned into a shot that went in far post for a 2-1 lead.

Bentley then closed out the final four plus minutes to secure its third game unbeaten (2-0-1) in a row.

The Falcons now have two games left in the regular season, both on the road. They visit Saint Anselm on Tuesday at 3:00 pm, and close out the regular season Friday at Le Moyne.