Men's Soccer Picks Up Crucial CCC Win over Suffolk

Boston, Mass. (October 18, 2022) - The Western New England Golden Bears headed out to Boston looking to build after their 1-0 win in Maine on Saturday. The men's team was 2-1-1 in October coming into this game. On the other hand, Suffolk was 2-2-1 in October and coming off a tie to Curry College on Saturday. 

Records:

• Western New England: 8-5-3 (5-2-0)
• Suffolk University: 8-5-3 (3-2-2)

How it Happened:

As the players took to the pitch for the late-night game, there was a feeling in the air that this could be a great game. The game started like the games prior had started. There was passing around from team to team, hoping to figure out the other team's defense quickly. WNE made the first move as Sean O'Neill put a quick shot on Suffolk's GK, Xander Balog, but Balog snatched it up. That was quickly followed up in the sixth minute by a Trevor Murdock shot on goal, and after not being tested last game, Roger Leland was there to make the save. Carter Van Buskirk had the next great opportunity for Suffolk, and WNE would watch it rattle against the crossbar. A few minutes later, a Suffolk header went high of the net, but did worry Leland a little. In the 21st minute, Van Buskirk had another opportunity to get the game's opening goal. However, Leland was not letting it get past him as he gobbled it up. A minute later, another Suffolk player got a shot on net, but again, Leland was equal to the task. WNE tried pushing down the pitch, but Suffolk was pressuring the WNE defense and Roger Leland again after a failed corner kick. Brady Sorensen sent a shot at Leland, but Leland would not let it get past him. After multiple shots from Suffolk, Sean O'Neill finally got another shot on net, but Balog was there for the save once again. The game started getting a little chippy, but it would not last long. The teams would go back to putting pressure on the other one with shots. Miguel Varela got a shot on Leland, and Sean Lanzillo got a shot on Balog, but both goalies made big saves to keep the game even at zero. Another Suffolk opportunity on net came from Damon Smargon sent a shot towards Leland, but he pushed it away. Another shot was taken, but it was blocked and kept away from Leland. Finally, in the 45th minute, Taj Jenson sent a shot at Leland, but Leland stood strong and made the save. The score stayed knotted at zero going into halftime.

During the first half, the stat line saw most of the shots taken lean toward Suffolk, with Suffolk attempting 12 shots and WNE attempting three. Leland made seven saves in the first half, and Balog made three. Suffolk had four corner kicks to WNE's two. Finally, when it came to fouls, WNE was penalized one more time than Suffolk, as they were called for six fouls, whereas Suffolk was called for five. The first half was electric, and if the second half were close to the first half, it would be a great ending.

The second half started similarly to the first half, with a WNE shot on net in the 48th minute. Ian Alves put a header on Balog, and he made the save. Varela's shot followed that up on Leland, which Leland turned away. Suffolk followed that shot up with two more, but they went wide and high of the net. The ball moved from team to team, looking for a team to possess it. WNE was that team, leading to a major opportunity on net. Jayden Montagna found Jonny Clough crashing the net. Clough got a boot on the ball and put it right past Balog and into its home in the back of the net. WNE had the opening goal and now led 1-0 in the 59th minute of play. However, it would not take long for another goal to be scored. Jayden Montagna raced toward the goal again, and instead of passing it, he took it himself, and for the second straight shot, it got past Balog and was sent crashing into the net for the second goal of the night. WNE now had two goals in two minutes after not having one for 58 minutes of play. The Golden Bears now led 2-0. Suffolk started to place pressure on WNE, but it only led to a wide shot that did not worry Leland too much. WNE followed that up in the 66th minute with a Sean O'Neill header that Balog saved. 

The 68th minute saw WNE make another push at goal. For the third time in four attempts, the ball found the back of the net. Mike Milazzo made a move and sent a shot past the hands of Balog and into the net. The Golden Bears now led 3-0 after 68 minutes of play. It seemed like WNE was running away with the game, but Suffolk did not crumble. It did not take long for Suffolk to get back in the game. Seconds later, Damon Smargon found a streaking Tommy Handelsman, and Handelsman sent the ball past Leland and into the back of the net. The game was now 3-1. Shots by both teams were sent on net, but both were wide of net. Suffolk's shot would sting the post, though, and worry Leland. The 73rd minute saw the fifth goal go into the back of the net in 15 minutes of play. Handelsman found Belluardo as he ran through the WNE defense. Belluardo put his boot on the ball and netted the shot to put Suffolk within one goal of WNE. After sitting back, WNE started to get back into the game. Shots by Milazzo and Mike Riley were sent at Balog, but Balog responded from the three goals with two big saves. In the 83rd minute, Suffolk sent another shot at Leland, but Leland made the save on the header. The final opportunity would come with ten seconds left in the game. Smargon made a move and put a shot at Leland, hoping to squeak it by, but as Leland has done throughout the season, he came up big at the end of the game and made the save to help the WNE get past Suffolk by a score of 3-2.

Suffolk ended the game with 27 shots to WNE's 13. Leland made ten saves on the night, and Bolag made seven. Suffolk finished the night with more corners, as they were awarded six corners, and WNE was awarded three. Finally, Suffolk had nine fouls, and WNE had eight on the night. The stat line showed a very similar story to what happened. It was a tight game that could have gone either way, but in the end, it saw WNE take the 3-2 win.

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears headed out to Boston looking to win their second conference game in a row.
• After a first half that saw no goals, Jayden Montagna connected with Jonny Clough, who sent the ball past the Suffolk goalkeeper in the 59th minute for his first goal of the season.
• In the 62nd minute, WNE got the second goal. Jayden Montagna got his second point of the night with his second goal of the season.
• Mike Milazzo netted his fourth goal of the season in the 68th minute to put WNE up 3-0.
• Seconds later, Tommy Handelsman put the ball past Leland to get a goal back for the Rams. The score was now 3-1.
• Matthew Belluardo scored in the 73rd minute for the Rams to put the score at 3-2.
• The game ended with a score of WNE, three, and Suffolk, two.
• Roger Leland made ten saves on twelve shots on the net.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE returns home for homecoming weekend on Saturday. They will take on Roger Williams at noon on Saturday, October 22.
• Suffolk heads to Gordon College on Saturday, October 22, at 3:30 pm.