Pelino |
MANSFIELD, Conn. (September 3, 2026) – Emerson College rode a brace from sophomore Nick Mirogiannis to overcome a pair of Eastern Connecticut State University penalties for a 3-2 victory in a non-conference men's soccer matchup at Rick McCarthy Field this afternoon.
Emerson has won its first two matches of the season for the first time since 2008 after senior Thomas Pelino delivered a penalty kick with just 3:42 to play, a mere five minutes after Eastern had knotted the score for a second time from its penalty spot. Mirogiannis' brace highlighted a combined five goals in the second half by the two teams and matched his goal output from his entire first collegiate season last fall.
First year Lasse Bartsh-Erforth finished with one save in the Emerson goal, while junior Jack Harmon and first year Marek Nardi split the goalkeeping duties for Eastern Connecticut. Harmon made five saves in a scoreless first half for the Warriors, while Nardi finished with two stops in the second.
The two teams erupted for five second half goals after playing through a scoreless opening half. Mirogiannis opened the scoring 5:16 into the second half with a left footed shot from the right channel after a long throw from first year Angel Nunez, marking his first collegiate point.
Senior Sebastian Kadlof converted his first of two second half penalty kick goals that knotted the score in the 65th minute, but Mirogiannis pushed Emerson back in front ten minutes later when he forced a turnover deep in the Eastern defensive third, squared across the penalty area from the left side and fired in a right footed shot into the right side for his second goal of the night.
Eastern was awarded its second penalty of the half and Kadlof converted yet again with his second equalizer from the spot in the 82nd minute. Emerson was granted a penalty of its own just five minutes later after a Warriors handball in the box, which Pelino deposited for an 87th minute winner.
Emerson (2-0-0, 0-0-0 NEWMAC) returns to action on Saturday when it visits Nichols College for a non-conference matchup at 11 a.m. The Lions home opener is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, when they host Widener University at Rotch Field at 1 p.m. Eastern Connecticut (1-1-0, 0-0-0 LEC) visits Farmingdale State College on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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