NYIT Tops Men's Soccer, 2-1, In ECC Championship Semifinal

Old Westbury, N.Y.-The New York Tech Bears scored first half goals in the 15th and 38th minutes as NYIT defeated the visiting University of Bridgeport Purple Knights, 2-1, in an 2011 East Coast Conference Men's Soccer Championship Tournament semifinal match played on Wednesday afternoon on Long Island.  With the win, the Bears, who are now 13-3-2 overall, advance to Friday's ECC Championship match.  The loss gives Bridgeport an overall record of 9-7-1 for the season.

Javier Gallardo scored the day's first goal for NYIT when he netted his second goal of 2011 at the 15:13 mark when he gathered a blocked shot off the foot of teammate Danilo Hernandez and found the back of the net.  Vinny Caccavale made the score 2-0 in favor of the Bears when he scored his seventh goal of the season from an assist from Jovan Pervaz at the 38:11 mark.

Bridgeport tallied its lone goal on the day when senior Patric Brundin (Gothenburg, Sweden) scored on a penalty kick in the final minute of the contest.  The goal is Brundin's fifth of the year.

NYIT outshot UB in the game, 19-11.

New York Tech goalkeeper Joe Caccavale made three saves to record the victory.  Bridgeport keeper Danny Hernandez (Bay Shore, N.Y.) made seven saves for the Purple Knights.