Early Second Half Goal Sinks Men’s Soccer, 1-0

Beverly, Mass. (September 30, 2022) - WNE headed out to Beverly, Massachusetts, to take on The Endicott Gulls in a CCC Friday night matchup. WNE looked to take the heroics of Tuesday's win and build on that momentum. Endicott looked to take down WNE for the second year in a row. With the record between the teams being 15-15-15, this game would see the victor break the tie and go one game up.

Records:

• Western New England: 5-4-2 (2-1-0)
• Endicott College: 6-3-2 (2-1-0)

How it Happened:

The game started with Roger Leland in goal for WNE and Kyle Rosa in net for Endicott. Both teams pushed at the beginning of the game to get an attack started. However, both defenses came to play, and the ball was pushed from one team to the other. A couple of fouls were called early on Endicott. This allowed WNE to get some opportunities to get a play set up and execute goal-scoring opportunities. Nothing would materialize, though, and Endicott would find themselves with the first chance on net. Tiago Frazao got the first shot on net, but Leland kept up his spectacular goalkeeping and turned Frazao's chance away. Endicott kept the pressure on with three more shots, but none of them worried Leland. In the 18th minute, Jason Brodeur had the next goal-scoring chance for the Gulls. Leland was there again for the save. WNE kept making pushes, but no shots were taken until Carlson rose entered the game as a sub and took a shot in the 35th minute. It went wide, but it would prove to be the spark for WNE. He was followed up by Mike Riley taking a free kick that would bend into the goal area and stay just high enough that it would not make it under the crossbar. It plunked off of the woodwork. Brandon Lewis followed it up with a shot, but it went high, not worrying Rosa too much. The first half had a crazy ending, as Mike Riley would take another free kick and keep it low enough this time. However, Rosa stretched out and got his hand on the ball to deflect it out of bounds with less than 30 seconds left in the half. WNE was that close to entering half with the advantage, but because of Rosa's save, the first half would end scoreless, 0-0.

At the end of one half, Endicott led WNE in shots attempted with 12 shots to 11 shots. Western New England led on saves, with Leland making two saves and Rosa making one. Endicott had more corners than WNE, with an advantage of four to one. Endicott was also the more penalized team with 12 fouls called against them to the nine fouls against WNE. 

As the whistle was blown to start the second half, WNE hoped to start the second just like they ended the first. Mike Milazzo got the first shot off of the second half, but it went wide. Endicott looked to answer, and they would. Tiago Frazao sent the ball to junior forward Joe Mepham. Mepham found fellow junior forward Max Karkos, who sent the ball past Leland for the first goal of the night and his third of the season. The score now read 1-0, Endicott. It was time for WNE to answer. Sam Riley would take charge and test Rosa two minutes after the goal. Rosa stepped up and made the save. Endicott would get the ball away from their keeper and put some pressure back on WNE. Joe Akisik would head a corner kick high of Leland and the crossbar. WNE kept trying to start an attack, but when they thought they had something going, Endicott was there to shut it down. In the 73rd minute, Brodeur had another opportunity to put the Gulls up by two. However, it sailed wide of the net. Sam Riley would do the same at the other end and sail his shot wide a few minutes later. 

As the second half neared the end, WNE pushed for a late equalizer, just like in their game against Trinity on Tuesday. Sean O'Neill had a free-kick blocked. Then, a little over a minute later, Milazzo had a shot on net, but Rosa was there again to keep the shutout alive. Endicott and senior Cole Elgin would turn the tide and put a shot on Leland a minute later, but Leland stayed strong and made the save. In the 88th minute, the ball would bounce around the Endicott penalty box and would bounce to Milazzo, who sent an arching header at the left side of the net, but sophomore back Spencer Butterworth headed it out of bounds to keep the Gulls ahead. Sean O'Neill took the corner kick and sent the ball in. Sam Riley would see an opportunity and take it as the ball bounced around and made it to him. He headed it towards the open right side of the net, but a Gulls defender got in the way to keep the ball out of the net. That was the last opportunity for the Golden Bears as they lost 1-0.

Endicott finished with one more shot attempt than WNE with 12 shots to 11. Rosa and Leland finished with three saves each. Endicott's defense made two more saves to get Endicott's total saves to five. Endicott had most of the corner kicks with a stat line of eight corners to three. Endicott also had more fouls as they committed 12 to WNE's nine. 

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears headed to Endicott to take on their CCC rivals in a Friday night showdown.
• The first half would stay knotted at zero after big saves by Roger Leland, and a big save by Kyle Rosa to end the first half.
• In the 53rd minute, Max Karkos would find the back of the net for Endicott off the assist by Joe Mepham and Tiago Frazao.
• WNE had two huge opportunities in the game's final three minutes, but Endicott's defense stepped up and saved the open-goal shots.
• Endicott won 1-0 in a hard-fought battle between the two CCC sides.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will head home for their final non-conference game of the year. They will host RPI on Tuesday, October 4, at 4:00 PM.
• Endicott will also stay at home for their final non-conference game of the year. They welcome another team from Springfield as the Springfield Pride head out to Beverly to take on Endicott at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, October 4.