SPRINGFIELD, Mass. â€" Sophomore forward Kwame Ofosu (Aurora, CO) scored the game-winner 43 seconds into the second half with an assist from senior midfielder Scott Thornton (Bedford, NH) as Western New England College captured its first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament title with a 1-0 victory over Johnson & Wales University.
The Golden Bears (16-5-1), who set a school record for wins, breaking the old mark of 15 (1975), will make their inaugural appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship on Wednesday. This also was the team's seventh straight win and school record 14th shutout of the season.
Both squads had chances to score in the second half. Johnson & Wales junior midfielder Richard Bouvier (Smithfield, RI) headed a shot that hit the top of the crossbar (following a corner kick) in the 74th minute. WNEC sophomore Mike Zawislak (Newark, DE) had a shot that just flew over the crossbar in the 78th minute. JWU junior defender Bryan Supple (Cumberland, RI) then fired a shot (off a direct kick) that went over the cross bar in the 81st minute.
WNEC senior defender John Schmalberger (Berlin, CT) was named the Tournament MVP.
Three Golden Bears made the All-GNAC Tournament team, senior goalie Jay Martyn (Poughkeepsie, NY) who made three saves, sophomore midfielder Tim Larocca (East Longmeadow, MA), and Ofosu who graduated from Worcester (Ma.) North High School..
Senior midfielder Mark Bleser (Scotia, NY), senior defender Jason Stewart (Ocean, NJ) , and Supple made the All-Tournament squad for the Wildcats (11-8-1).
