Merrimack Men’s Soccer Plays Post to 2-2 Draw in Season-Opener

Sophomore Francis Mulkern of Scituate netted a pair of goals as the men’s soccer team battled Post to a 2-2 tie in the season opener. The Warriors and Eagles both start the 2011 campaign with an 0-0-1 record.

Mulkern opened the scoring in the 38th minute,  burying the ball in the net from three yards out. Evan Burokas of Auburn sent a driven ball into the box from a free kick that bounced through a crowd of players and found its way to Mulkern’s foot in front of an open goal.

Merrimack carried the 1-0 lead into halftime despite trailing in the shots category, 6-5.

The Warriors doubled their lead in the 73rd minute as Mulkern received a pass from Jimmy Goncalves of Marlborough at the top of the penalty box. The sophomore dribbled into the box before cutting the ball back towards the center, shaking a defender in the process. Mulkern calmly tucked the ball into the net past the onrushing keeper.

Just five minutes later, Post earned a penalty shot which Hylton Davis converted to slice Merrimack’s advantage to one goal.

With less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation, the Eagles knotted the score at 2-2. Post’s Matt Luis crossed the ball from the right flank to the middle of the penalty box to Davis making a run unmarked. Davis one-timed a shot into the left side of the goal to even the match.

The game remained tied at the end of 90 minutes of action, forcing the game to go to overtime. The Warriors recorded the only two shots in overtime, firing one in each session.

Merrimack had a man-advantage for the final six minutes of the game, as the referee issued a red card to a Post player.

On the ensuing free kick, Burokas’ driven ball was just out of the reach of Nicholas Lo Coco of Gloucester, who offered a diving attempt at heading in a game-winner.

Merrimack owned the advantage in shots, 16-13, for the contest. Both sides earned four corner kicks each.

Mattias Drummond of Partille, Sweden, registered four saves on the night for the Warriors. Errol Reid turned aside eight shots in goal for the Eagles.

“Our team did a good job of coming out of the gates strong. I felt that we played really well and we just need to maintain our level of play for the entire game,” said head coach Tony Martone.

The Merrimack Invitational resumes Saturday, September 3. American International will meet Post at 11 am.  The Warriors will face Dominican in the final game of the event at 1:30 p.m.

American International and Dominican played to a scoreless tie in the opening game. The Chargers outshot the Yellow Jackets 27-18 on the day.