Fifth Game-Winner Grants Casaletto Third CACC Honor Roll Appearance
New Haven, Conn. - (10/25/2016) – Chestnut Hill College commemorated Saturday’s Senior Night recognition with a dramatic, must-have Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) win over Felician University. The icebox marathon ended on a 3-2 final in the 98th minute with junior midfielder Joseph Casaletto (Sewell, N.J.) scoring his second goal of the contest on a one-touch strike off a chip pass from junior forward Zachary Gray (W. Sussex, England). It was Casaletto’s fifth game-winning-goal of the season, earning the Griffins their fifth win of the season, and himself a third CACC Honor Roll appearance.
The week began with a 5-0 loss at Georgian Court University (9-5-1, 6-3-1) on Wednesday, October 19. The Lions made good use of their two first-half shots, seizing an early 2-0 advantage over Chestnut Hill College. With the momentum in hand they registered three more scores in the second half and collect a 5-0 league win. The Griffins split their six shots among six players, half the attempts reached the Lions’ goalkeeper, requiring three saves.
In the Scarlet and Gold home finale, the contest's initial tally came just six minutes (6:05) after the opening kickoff as junior midfielder Charles Simpson (Dalgety Bay, Scotland) connected with Casaletto on a long serve that he completed for a 1-0 Chestnut Hill College (5-9, 4-7) advantage. The Griffins’ advantage held until 30:28, when Felician University (4-10-2, 3-7-1) evened the score with a chip to the middle of the pitch and a strike to the bottom right corner of the Griffin goal (1-1).
After halftime, the 1-1 stalemate held until the 72nd minute as a Scarlet and Gold turnover, deep in their own end, allowed Felician University to capture a 2-1 edge at 71:14. But the visitor advantage was short-lived as Gray evened the contest a 2-2 just 15 minutes (86:37) later, gathering a loose ball off foul restart for a clutch Chestnut Hill College goal. As the temperature continued to drop at Victory Field #1 the pressure rose. The first overtime period appeared to have a successor until 97:04, when a Gray chip over a Golden Falcon defenseman was finished to the back of the goal by Casaletto.
It was the first two-goal game of Casaletto's career. He led the Griffins in shots as well, totaling five. He currently leads Chestnut Hill College in points (13) and goals (6).
The Chestnut Hill College men’s soccer team looks to secure their fourth straight trip to the CACC Championship Tournament on Tuesday, October 25, when they visit Philadelphia University for a 2:30 p.m. contest.
