Fussen’s Four-Point Week Warrants Mention On CACC Honor Roll
New Haven, Conn. - (10/27/2015) – Showcasing his versatility, junior defender Nils Fussen (Aachen, Germany) earned a mention on the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Weekly Honor Roll by providing a goal and two assists in the Griffins’ 1-1 week of league play against Holy Family University and Nyack College. After starting a tick-tack-toe connection that got the Chestnut Hill College on the scoreboard midway through the first half, Fussen scored his fourth goal of the season in the waning minutes of a 3-2 loss to the Tigers. Shorthanded in the weekend battle with the Warriors, Fussen expanded his zone, covering both midfield and backfield after assisting freshman forward Jason Burns (Douglassville, Pa.) on the Griffins initial tally in a 2-1 overtime triumph.
Chestnut Hill College (6-6-2, 5-4-2) found itself in a 2-0 quagmire just 8:27 into last Tuesday, October 20, afternoon's contest at crosstown rival Holy Family University. Rallying cries off the feet of sophomore midfielder Joseph Casaletto (Sewell, N.J.) midway through the first half and Fussen in the final minutes were not enough to stave off defeat as the Tigers held on for a 3-2 CACC win.
On Saturday, October 24, the Griffins were down – a goal and a man, at various times – during the second half of their afternoon CACC clash with visiting Nyack College. But their resiliency paid huge dividends in the form of an epic end to a Senior Day stunner orchestrated, fittingly, by a pair of seniors who took and left the field to a round of spirited applause. Matthew Casaletto (Sewell, N.J.) picked out midfield mate Nicholas Jaffe (Sao Paulo, Brazil) with a deep ball down the right flank, which soon found its way to the back of the net as Jaffe powered home a golden goal with 6:26 to play in overtime to hand the Scarlet and Gold a monumental victory in the league playoff race. The veteran heroics allowed Chestnut Hill College to leave the field a winner in overtime for the first time since 2011, snapping a 10-game winless streak in such contests.
Chestnut Hill College used a fortuitous bounce to draw even as Burns took a pass from Fussen near the end line and sent an angled shot toward Warriors freshman keeper Wiktor Lasota (Lodz/Warsaw, Poland). Lasota closed the window with his body, but Burns’ low offering slipped through his hands and into the back of the net for a surprising equalizer (75:11). That was just the prelude to a tense, unforgettable finish.
The Griffins’ chances took a hit when they were assessed a red card with 10:35 remaining in the second half, giving the Warriors a man advantage with which to work. The Scarlet and Gold stonewalled Nyack College long enough to get to an extra session, however, and rest was unforgettable history.
Just 3:34 into the first overtime period, Casaletto took a touch near the midfield stripe and sent a high-arching ball down the right flank, where Jaffé was making a run. The Griffins’ leading scorer put his all-region pedigree on display, bringing the ball down and racing into the box, where he fired a scorching shot past the outstretched arms of Lasota and into the Warrior net, setting off a wild celebration on the far side of the field and putting a storybook stamp on a scintillating affair.
With three points in hand, they now sit in seventh place in the CACC standings with one match remaining. With a litany of playoff scenarios at play on the season’s last day, the Griffins are at least assured that a victory against crosstown rival Philadelphia University in their finale will clinch a berth in the CACC Championship Tournament. Kickoff for the rivalry showdown is set for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28.
