PHILADELPHIA – The HFU Men's Soccer Team suffered a heartbreaking 2-3 loss to defending champion Bridgeport in the Collegiate Conference (CACC) Tournament Quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon at Tiger Field.
Holy Family led 2-0 entering the final 17 minutes, only to have the Purple Knights score thrice in a span of 11:27.
Following a scoreless first half, the Tigers took the lead 13:29 into the second on a beautiful set piece routine in which
Hugo Gutierrez (Valladolid, Spain/Nuestra Señora del Lourdes) played a ball to the back post for
Ricardo Paniccia Giraldez (O Porriño, Spain/IES Pino Manso), who sent it across face for
Ever Maradiaga (Edgewater Park, N.J./Life Center Academy) to tap in.
Paniccia Giraldez then doubled the advantage 8:02 later when
Kevin Castro's (Bensalem, Pa./Father Judge) ball into the box fell to his foot, for him to beat the keeper high.
Bridgeport halved the deficit with 16:48 remaining though, before finding the net twice in the span of just 3:04, as the match-winner came with 5:31 left on the clock.
Pushing for an equalizer, Maradiaga headed high on Gutierrez corner kick for HFU's final chance in the 87th minute.
Bruno Mestres (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Mackenzie Tambore) saved the first five shots he faced, with his sixth and final one coming just 46 seconds before UB's equalizer.
The Tigers scored on both of their attempts on net.
Paniccia Giraldez ends the season with a team-high five assists, while he is second to Maradiaga's five goals with three.
Gutierrez finishes second with four assists, while Castro's was his first of the year.
