Golden Bears Knock Off Top-Seeded Gulls in Penalty Kick Shootout, Advance to CCC Title Game

Junior Troy Remillard nets two goals as Western New England advances to first CCC championship game since 2013

BEVERLY, Mass. (November 2, 2016) – The fourth-seeded Western New England University men's soccer team knocked off top-seeded Endicott College in a penalty kick shootout this evening in the semifinal round of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Tournament at Hempstead Stadium. After the two teams battled to a 2-2 draw through 90 minutes of regulation and two ten-minute overtime sessions, the Golden Bears emerged victorious with a 5-3 result in the penalty shootout.

Top Performers
• Junior forward Troy Remillard (Palmer, Mass.) fueled the Western New England offense with his second consecutive two-goal effort and fourth multi-goal performance of the season. Remillard also converted his penalty kick attempt to give the Golden Bears a 4-3 edge in the shootout.  
• Senior goalkeeper Kevin Strobel (Rockland, Mass.) recorded six saves, including three in the second half and two during the second overtime period, before stopping Endicott's fourth attempt in the penalty shootout.
•Sophomore midfielder Nick Liccardi (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) followed up Strobel's key save with the game-winning penalty kick, which he tucked inside the right post out of the reach of the Endicott goalkeeper.

• Junior Ryan Cohane (Easton, Conn.) and freshman Evan Couchot (Mason, Ohio) each scored for the Gulls, with both goals serving as equalizers.

Match Review
• Remillard opened the scoring in the 16^th minute, capitalizing on a failed Endicott clearance with a shot that found the lower left corner of the net.
• Endicott pulled even just under four minutes later, when Cohane headed home a corner kick taken by junior forward Dario Neukom (Palma de Mallorca, Spain).
• Western New England had an opportunity to restore its one-goal lead in the final minute of the first half, but Liccardi's shot struck the post.
• Senior midfielder Kory Caster (Wilbraham, Mass.) came through with a clutch defensive play in the 68^th minute, heading the ball out of harm's way at the goal line after Endicott sophomore forward Victor DaCosta (Rehoboth, Mass.) put a shot on target.
• Just over four minutes later, Remillard put the Golden Bears back on top with his 15^th goal of the season. Freshman forward Corey Brown (Somers, Conn.) sent in a pass from the left corner, and Remillard one-touched the ball into the lower left corner of the net to give Western New England a 2-1 lead.
• The Gulls would equalize for the second time in the 75^th minute, however, when Couchot buried a penalty kick after Western New England was whistled for a foul in the box.
• Western New England appeared to secure a game-winner early in the first overtime session, but Caster was called offside, negating the potential goal.
• Strobel kept the Golden Bears alive with a pair of clutch saves in the second overtime period, including a diving stop on Endicott junior Diego Maillo's (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) one-timer at the mouth of the goal in the 104^th minute (see video below).
• After neither team was able to find the back of the net during 20 minutes of overtime, the match went to penalty kicks. Both squads converted their first three attempts, and after Remillard gave the Golden Bears a 4-3 edge, Strobel came through with a huge stop on Endicott's fourth attempt, which was taken by Neukom. Liccardi stepped up next and buried his shot to secure Western New England's spot in the CCC title game.

Notes
• Endicott outshot Western New England by a 17-14 margin and held a 6-3 edge in corner kicks.
• The Golden Bears advance to the CCC title game for the first time since 2013 with the win.
• Remillard, who was named to the All-CCC first team earlier this week, has scored five goals over Western New England's last three matches and seven goals in the last five games.

Up Next
Western New England (10-9-1, 6-3 CCC) will travel to Boston to take on Wentworth in the CCC title game on Saturday at 3 PM. Endicott's season comes to a close at 12-5-3.