WORCESTER, Mass. — American rallied from a one-goal deficit to defeat Holy Cross 2-1 on Friday, extending its winning streak to one game while handing the Crusaders their second consecutive loss. The Eagles struck twice in the second half to secure the Patriot League victory, with Toshi Davis providing the decisive goal in the 72nd minute.
Holy Cross broke through first when Liam Heneghan headed in a corner kick from Jeb Snead in the 60th minute, giving the home side a 1-0 advantage. The goal came off a set piece, capitalizing on American's defensive vulnerability during a corner sequence. Matthew Tibbetts made four saves for American, keeping the Eagles within striking distance despite Holy Cross's territorial advantage.
Troy Elgersma equalized for American in the 41st minute of the first half, though the play-by-play data indicates the goal came during a handball foul sequence. The strike set the stage for a competitive second half, with both teams trading chances and adjustments. American made five substitutions at halftime, rotating key personnel including midfielder Sebastian Garces and forward Toshi Davis.
Davis made an immediate impact upon his second-half introduction, combining with Reyes Parra to break the deadlock. Parra's assist led to Davis's go-ahead goal in the 72nd minute, which proved to be the match-winner. The sequence showcased American's attacking prowess after the interval, when the Eagles generated seven shots on goal compared to Holy Cross's five.
American dominated possession metrics with eight corner kicks to Holy Cross's five, controlling the tempo for stret