BLOOMSBURG - Junior Salvatore Ficarotta (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) scored the game-winner 7:59 into the first overtime period, lifting the Bloomsburg University men's soccer team to a 2-1 win over Holy Family in non-conference action at Steph Pettit Stadium on Saturday.
With the victory, the Huskies remained unbeaten on the 2021 season, moving to 4-0. Holy Family dropped to 0-2-1 with the tough defeat.
After a defensive-minded first half in which only four total shots were taken (three by Bloomsburg and one by Holy Family), both offenses got into some rhythm in the second half.
In the 49th minute and shortly after they came out of the locker room from intermission, the Huskies broke the scoreless tie, as freshman Sammy Ames (Holly Ridge, N.C./Dixon) scored from a few yards out off a cross from sophomore Stephen Hollis (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem East). The goal for Ames was the first of his collegiate career, while Hollis notched his second assist of the year on the play.
But, Holy Family answered the score quickly, as Sean Touey scored in the 56th minute to knot the game up at 1-1. For the remainder of regulation, Bloomsburg was unable to convert on a few scoring chances at the net and after 90 minutes of play, the match headed to extra time.
There, it did not take long for Ficarotta and the Huskies to end it.
Moments after a Holy Family foul, an outstanding free kick by freshman Mackenzie Fairs (Uckfield, England/Palmyra Area) was played perfectly by Ficarotta just in the box, as he headed the chance right into the right side of the net to win the game for Bloomsburg.
The goal for Ficarotta was the first of his 2021 season, while for Fairs, the assist was the first of his career at Bloomsburg.
Overall in the victory, Bloomsburg controlled the stat sheet all day and went on to outshoot Holy Family by a 12-3 margin. The Huskies also held a 6-3 edge on corner kicks, as well.
The Bloomsburg University men's soccer team returns to action on Wednesday night, as the open PSAC Eastern Division play for the year with a match against Shippensburg at home. Things get underway at 7 p.m.
