Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. - (10/20/2015) – The Chestnut Hill College men's soccer team found itself in a 2-0 quagmire just 8:27 into this afternoon's contest at crosstown rival Holy Family University, and rallying cries off the feet of sophomore midfielder Joseph Casaletto (Sewell, N.J.) midway through the first half and junior defender Nils Fussen (Aachen, Germany) in the waning minutes were not enough to stave off defeat as the Tigers held on for a 3-2 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) triumph.   
 
Holy Family University (4-11-1, 4-6) wasted little time putting the Griffins in a hole. Junior midfielder Christopher Tracey (Abington, Pa.) picked out senior counterpart Kevin McCollick (Washington Township, N.J.) for a wide-open shot in the box and a 1-0 lead on the game's first shot, just 97 seconds in (1:37). Chestnut Hill College (5-6-2, 4-4-2) found itself in deeper trouble less than seven minutes later (8:27), when Tigers sophomore defender Mariano Cepeda (Philadelphia, Pa.) rocketed a shot from 40 yards out into the back of the Griffin net, providing a quick 2-0 bulge.
 
Armed with plenty of time to regroup, the Scarlet and Gold embarked on the comeback trail and hit paydirt midway through the first half. Fussen and senior midfielder Nicholas Jaffe (Sao Paulo, Brazil) orchestrated a tic-tac-toe connection with Casaletto, who slotted home from the middle of the box to slice the margin in half, 2-1, with his first goal of the season at 22:01.
 
Despite a 9-6 surplus in shots, the Griffins needed three saves from junior keeper James Jackson (Sewell, N.J.) to stay within a goal at halftime.
 
Casaletto and Jaffé each put a shot on frame early in the second period, but Holy Family University senior Richard Ongaro (Columbus, N.J.) came up with the save both times to stymie Chestnut Hill College's advances and allow the home side to tack on an insurance tally. Tracey again played a supporting role, this time teaming with junior midfielder Justin Hiltwine (Philadelphia, Pa.) to set up the dagger from senior forward Aiah Mbriwa (Abington, Pa.) with just over 10 minutes remaining, 3-1 (79:58).
 
The Griffins refused to go quietly. Junior midfielder Matthew McLeod (Sewell, N.J.) found Fussen in the box, and the junior elevated to head in his fourth goal of the season and give Chestnut Hill College life, trailing only 3-2 at 83:44. But a corner kick failed to produce a shot, and Ongaro was not troubled again as Holy Family University hung on.
 
Tracey spearheaded the Tiger arsenal with four shots, though his passing (two assists) proved more lethal to the Griffin cause. Ongaro collected three saves to record the win (4-8-1).
 
Jaffé and Casaletto led the Chestnut Hill College resistance with four shots apiece. Fussen registered a career-high three points, giving him ten in his breakout campaign. McLeod's assist was his first in two years, and the third of his career. Jackson (5-5-2) had five saves, including one in the final two minutes that gave the Griffins a chance.
 
The Griffins return home to Victory Field #1 on Saturday, October 24, to honor Jaffé, Juan Amaya (Cartagena, Colombia), and Matthew Casaletto (Sewell, N.J.) on Senior Day. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. against Nyack College.