GORHAM, Maine -- Junior Ross Suleski (Amesbury, Mass.) had two goals and an assist as the Saint Joseph's College Monks scored three times in a span of 7:17 to erase a two-goal deficit and defeat the University of Southern Maine Huskies 3-2 in the opening game of the USM Soccer Classic Friday afternoon at Hannaford Field.

            In the second game, junior Victor Ferreira (St. Michael, Portugal) scored his second goal of the match 99:36 to give the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Corsairs a 2-1 sudden-death overtime victory over the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.  Friday's matches were the season-opener for all four teams.

            Saturday's schedule has Saint Joseph's playing UMass Dartmouth at 2:00 p.m. followed by USM playing Coast Guard at 4:00 p.m.

St. Joseph's College (Me.)  3            Southern Maine  2

            The host Huskies built a 2-0 lead on a brilliant strike from sophomore Mazen Aljari (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) in the first half and a goal from freshman Luke Pugsley (Kennebunk, Maine/Milton) in the opening minute of the second half.  Aljari's goal came in the 14th minute as his 18-yard shot curved inside the far post.  Freshman Michael Daniel (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) picked up the assist. Pugsley got his first collegiate goal when his ball was misplayed in the box.

            Suleski got Saint Joseph's on the board in the 74th minute converting an assist from sophomore Jason Wade (South Hampton, N.H.).  Less than six minutes later, Suleski netted his second goal of the match off a set play, assisted by freshman Paulo Lopes (Gloucester, Mass.).

            Freshman Ralph Houanche (Portland, Maine) scored the game winner in the 81st minute knocking in a pass from Suleski for his first collegiate goal.

            Junior goalkeeper Kenny Grade (Hampton, N.H./St. Thomas Aquinas) earned the win making three saves.  Rookie keeper Korey Mulherin (Leeds, Maine/Leavitt Area) made five saves in his collegiate debut.  The Monks had a 13-9 advantage in shots while the Huskies held an 8-5 edge in corner kicks.

UMass Dartmouth  2            Coast Guard  1  (OT)

            Ferreira tallied the game-winning goal in the final minute of the first sudden-death overtime period after taking a pass from junior Adam Philbin (Cumberland, R.I.), eluding a defender and beating Coast Guard senior Will Leffler (Daytona Beach, Fla.) from the left side with a 10-yard shot.

            Junior Joe Bodzewski (Seattle, Wash.) gave CG a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute with his 15-yard shot after taking a pass from junior Walter Heaney (Jacksonville, Fla.).

            Ferreira's first goal of the match in the 33rd minute tied the score.  The teams played through a scoreless second half sending the game into the added time.

            Senior goalie Mike Phelan (Carver, Mass.) posted four saves in the UMD goal to earn the victory.  Leffler finished the game with three saves.  Coast Guard out shot UMD 14-9 and piled up a 9-3 advantage in corner kicks.

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