For the first time this spring, Thomas Cirillo failed to score a goal for Salisbury. In fact, the senior midfielder did not register a goal despite launching 13 shots through the first two rounds of the NCAA Division III tournament.
But Cirillo ended the drought with two goals on five attempts – including the game-winner just 37 seconds into overtime – in the No. 3 Sea Gulls' 11-10 decision against No. 6 Denison in a tournament quarterfinal Wednesday night at Sea Gull Stadium in Salisbury.
Cirillo's heroics were a welcome sight to coach Jim Berkman.
"He stuck two shots that were Tommy Cirillo-like in the game," he said Friday. "They were cannons, both of them. I think in the last couple of practices, he's been looking like his old self. I'm looking forward to that continuing."
Cirillo ranks second on the team in goals (52) and points (80). So going scoreless in two contests was an unfamiliar stretch for the Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
"He was definitely pressing a little bit as any great player would be," Berkman said. "But he wasn't going to let it slow him down although sometimes it gets you going too fast and you're thinking about it. I think we're past that at this point."
Berkman said he was not terribly surprised by Cirillo's performance. Berkman said Cirillo had shown signs of breaking out of his mini-slump during practice before Wednesday night's win.
"He was shooting the ball pretty well in the previous two days of practice," Berkman said. "I don't remember what day it was – it was either Monday or Tuesday – but I remember him scoring a boatload of goals when we were doing our man-up/man-down segment. I think he stuck seven goals in 12 minutes. He looked like Tommy Cirillo, and I think that confidence carried into the game that night, and he played well."