MEN’S SOCCER: Burdick leads Emmanuel past Anna Maria

The Basics:

-Score: Emmanuel College 2, Anna Maria College 0

-Records: Emmanuel (3-7-6, 3-2-4 GNAC), Anna Maria (1-13-1, 0-9-0 GNAC)

-Location: Paxton, Mass. (AMCAT Field)

- The Lead: Sophomore Willy Burdick (Scarborough, Maine) scored a pair of first-half goals Wednesday afternoon as Emmanuel College defeated Anna Maria College, 2-0, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's soccer match on Senior Day at AMCAT Field.

How It Happened:

-Burdick put the Saints on the board in the 22nd minute when he knocked a loose ball into the goal from right near the left goal post amid a cluster of players.

-The Saints doubled their lead with less than two minutes remaining in the half when Burdick converted a corner kick taken by senior Cam Messier (Belchertown, Mass.) with a header past the keeper.

-Anna Maria had several good scoring opportunities in the first half but could not convert. The AMCATS out-shot the visitors 7-4 in the opening 45 minutes.

-The home team again outshot the visitors in the second half but could not put one in the net. The AMCATS had their best opportunity with just under nine minutes remaining but a penalty kick by senior Derrick Casey (Worcester, Mass.) was turned away by Emmanuel keeper Jonny Ferrarini (Hanover, Mass.)

Inside the Numbers:

-Anna Maria finished with a 14-6 advantage in shots, including a 6-2 margin in shots on goal.

-Casey, Anna Maria's lone senior who was recognized before the game on Senior Day, had four of the team's six shots on goal.

-Ferrarini finished with six saves for the Saints to post his fourth shutout of the season. 

Up Next:

-Anna Maria plays its final two games of the season on the road – Saturday, Oct. 21, in a GNAC contest at Rivier University (1:00 p.m.) and Sunday, Oct. 22, in a non-conference affair at WPI (1:00 p.m.)

-Emmanuel is back in action Saturday, Oct. 21, with a GNAC game at Regis College (1:30 p.m.) and wraps up its regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at WPI (7:00 p.m.)

* * *