Lanzillo's Two Points Deliver the Golden Bears into CCC Semifinals

Springfield, Mass. (October 29, 2022) - After finishing the regular season third in the CCC, the Golden Bears played host to the Nichols College Bison in the quarterfinal round of the CCC playoffs. These two teams played each other earlier in the season in a matchup that saw WNE win 1-0 off of a Sean O'Neill free-kick goal from almost mid-field. Both teams ended the season with a win, and Nichols held a three-game win streak leading into the playoff game.

Records:

• Western New England: 9-6-3 (6-3-0 CCC)
• Nichols College: 10-6-3 (3-3-3 CCC)

How it Happened:

As Nichols passed the ball backward, the game began. Nichols rode the momentum of their prior victories in the game's early stages. They kept most of the possession and pressured WNE early and often. The ball traveled down the field, but no opportunities were given to the Bison. The game's first shot came from Sean O'Neill, who sent a shot at the Nichols GK, Derek Axon. Axon swallowed the ball up to prevent the early goal. Mike Milazzo then had a shot on net in the 10th minute. Axon was there for the save again. Nichols then got a shot off a minute later, but it sailed above the net and out of play. The Nichols pressure would pay off. A turnover by the Golden Bears led to William Savage getting the ball left of the net. Savage took a touch and sent a low pass to Brady Stevenson. Stevenson quickly sent a shot to the bottom right corner of the net. It slid past WNE GK Roger Leland and into the back of the net. Nichols was winning 1-0. WNE tried to answer, but after a missed opportunity, Tristan Phillips found a big opportunity to double the Bison lead. He put it passed Leland, but just wide as it plunked off the left woodwork. 

WNE kept trying to gain possession, but Nichols would turn that pressure around and got another shot on Leland in the 17th minute. Leland made the save, though. After that, WNE started to see the opportunities pile up as they let the game slow down. Multiple opportunities from set pieces saw the Golden Bears come up just short of goals. In the 22nd minute, Jonny Clough had a shot saved by Axon. Milazzo followed that up with a shot saved in the 26th minute. After that, the ball would go back and forth from team to team, with both teams setting up opportunities, but no shots coming from them. Finally, in the 37th minute, the opportunities became too much, and Nichols buckled. A corner kick was sent in from the left side of the goal. After bouncing around, the ball was sent to Sean Lanzillo, who headed it to Matt Spruill, who sent it right past Axon and into the back of the net. WNE had equalized the game at one with less than ten minutes until halftime. WNE had turned the momentum around, which could be seen in how the team played. After some more time ticked off the clock, the 43rd minute saw Sean O'Neill send a free kick off the post. Sean Lanzillo was in the right place at the right time and headed it past the goalie for the second goal of the game for WNE. The score was now 2-1 going into halftime.

At halftime, the stat line showed a relatively even game. WNE had eight shots, and Nichols had six. Six of WNE's shots were on goal. Two of Nichols' shots were on goal. WNE had four corners to Nichols' one. Lastly, WNE was called for eight fouls, and Nichols was called for seven. It was a tight first half, and the second would be no different.

The second half began with a WNE kickoff. Nichols changed at the half and put Franco Barreto Santana in for Derek Axon in goal. The second half started quickly, with Chris Allen getting a shot off. Nichols answered with a shot of their own that went high and wide of the net. Jonny Clough then shot at net, but it went off the woodwork. O'Neill and Allen had shots in the 57th minute, but neither worried the Nichols keeper. O'Neill then sent a shot on net in the 59th minute that was parried away by Barreto Santana. Spruill followed it up with a shot, but it was blocked. WNE continued to ride the momentum from the first half and sent more pressure at Nichols with shots from O'Neill and Connor Knowlton. The 69th minute saw a big opportunity for WNE arise. Sean O'Neill put a shot on net in the bottom left corner, but the Nichols keeper kept O'Neill out of the net.

Dawson Quint saw a chance arise in the 71st minute for Nichols. However, the ball went out of play, and did not worry Leland. The 76th minute saw two shots from WNE scare Nichols. Milazzo and Clough sent shots at net, and Barreto Santana made saves for both. Milazzo then put a shot off the woodwork in the 80th minute. It was the best opportunity for WNE in the second half. Each team then had a shot, but neither was on net. In the 86th minute, with Nichols tightening up, they sent two shots toward net, but neither made Leland make a save. The Final shot was from Ian Alves in the 89th minute that went just above net. That is how the game would end. WNE wins the quarterfinal matchup 3-1 and will wait to see who they play on Tuesday.

The stat line showed WNE taking 25 shots during the game. Nichols attempted 13 shots. Nichols made eight saves on ten shots on goal. Leland made one save on two shots that got to the goal. WNE was awarded nine corner kicks, two Nichols' two. Finally, Nichols was called for 16 fouls, and WNE was called for 11. WNE defeated Nichols 3-1 to advance to the semifinals.

Inside the Lines:

• WNE hosted Nichols College in the quarterfinal round of the CCC playoffs.
• Nichols started the scoring in the 12th minute when William Savage Found Brady Stevenson for a goal.
• Matt Spruill scored on a header assist from Sean Lanzillo in the 37th minute.
• The 43rd minute saw a free kick from Sean O'Neill bounce off the woodwork and to Sean Lanzillo, who headed the ball past Axon for the lead.
• Derek Axon made four saves in the first half for Nichols.
• Franco Barreto Santana made four saves during the second half for Nichols.
• Leland made one save.
• WNE took the win by a score of 3-1.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE moves on to the semifinal round of the CCC playoffs and will play Roger Williams University on Wednesday, November 2. The time is to be announced.
• Nichols' season ends with the defeat at WNE. They finished the season with a record of 10-6-3 with three wins in the CCC.