Press Releases

Oct 15, 2001
Both Southampton College Soccer Teams Storm to Historic Wins

Men and Women Feature Prolific Scorers on Pace to Break Records

Contact:
Darren Johnson
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

Southampton, NY - Southampton College men's and women's soccer teams took major steps toward league titles and possible NCAA births on Saturday, October 13, scoring identical 3-0 wins against tough New York Collegiate Athletic Conference opponents.

The men convincingly outmaneuvered upstart New York Institute of Technology (8-3-1, 2-2 NYCAC) 3-0 to improve the Colonials' record to 7-3-1, 4-0 NYCAC. Carl Lindgren, a senior from Stenkullen, Sweden, scored the team's first goal when he fired a rocket from 25 yards out. It was Lindgren's first goal of the season and his first game-winning goal ever. Andreas Nilsson scored on a breakaway after a pass from Ragnar Arnarsson, and Peter Nilsson tallied his 15th goal of the season when he converted a penalty kick to make it 3-0. He is on pace to break the school record of 22 goals in a season set by Johan Kron in 1999.

Peter Nilsson

Asa Birgersdotter

"Our guys came out with the right attitude and acted very professionally throughout the whole game," Coach Patrick Horne said. "Carl Lindgren was the best player on the field, and Andreas Nilsson had his best performance all season." The Colonials are now preparing for a big showdown on Saturday, October 20, when they take on powerhouse Dowling (8-0-2, 4-0) away. A win against Dowling will put the Colonials in the driver's seat to win the conference title for the third year in a row and automatic consideration for an NCAA bid. Before Dowling, though, the Colonials face Molloy on Wednesday, October 17, to play another important conference game.

Southampton and Dowling are the last two undefeated teams in the conference. Last year, Southampton edged Dowling 1-0 to take the NYCAC crown.

Lady Colonials Also in the Hunt

After years of rebuilding, the Lady Colonials are finally having a breakout season, leading Coach Mark Dawson to his best record ever as women's head coach. On Saturday, the success continued with an unyielding 3-0 win against Philadelphia. Begga Laxdal opened the scoring in the first half, and the 1-0 lead was standing into the last five minutes of the game.

When Laxdal, an all-league midfielder from Reykjavik, Iceland, added her second goal on a free kick to make it 2-0, the coaching staff was relieved. "We totally controlled the game but you just don't know. With that second goal, we knew we had it," assistant coach Thomas Ligouri said. Laxdal scored her 10th and 11th goals of the season.

Surprising freshman Asa Birgersdotter of Stockholm, Sweden, added her team high 15th goal of the season and is on pace to break the college record of 21 goals in a season set in 1995 by Allison Mullen. Freshman Annelie Andersson, also from Stockholm, added two assists.

The Lady Colonials (8-3, 6-1) now will play their most important game of the season on Saturday, October 20, when Adelphi (9-2-1, 3-0) visits. A win would put Southampton in a three-way tie for first place in the NYCAC with Adelphi and C.W Post.