Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 2, 2021) – The Western New England University men's soccer team collected one goal in the opening half while following up that goal with another early in the second half as the Golden Bears defeated the Suffolk University Rams on Saturday afternoon from Suprenant Field. Sean Lanzillo tallied both scorers for the Golden Bears, as Chris Allen and Roger Leland would pick up helpers on Western New England's way to a 2-1 victory.
Records:
- Western New England: 7-2-1 (3-0 CCC)
- Suffolk University: 5-5 (1-2 CCC)
How it Happened:
The Golden Bears dominated the possession in the first 45 minutes of the game as the offense would continue to take shots on their CCC opponents. Western New England would open the first half in the 11th minute with the game's first goal as Chris Allen would take the ball down the lower left side of the field and make a cross pass to an open Sean Lanzillo in the middle of the box who was able to tap the ball into the open goal to give the Golden Bears the 1-0 lead. Lanzillo picks up his first goal of the 2021 campaign to put WNE ahead.
Suffolk would answer Western New England's goal in the 32nd minute when Tommy Handelsman sent a ball into the box that found the head of Brady Sorensen who flicked the ball into the net to tie the game at one. Sorensen picks up his fourth goal of the season for the Rams, who are in search of their second conference win of the season. Just after the goal from Suffolk, the Golden Bears nearly struck for their second goal of the game. Malik Serisser took a pass into the box and ripped a shot that rang the outside of the post, nullifying a chance for the Golden Bears.
Western New England would attempt eight shots in the first 45 minutes of play, while Suffolk only managed to get two towards goal. GK Brady Allen was not forced to make a save to open the first half, while his counterpart Xander Balog made one save on two shots on goal by the Golden Bears. Western New England took four corner kicks in the opening half, while the Golden Bears defense held Suffolk to no corner kicks.
Lanzillo would strike again for Western New England in the 55th minute of the game when Roger Leland sent a pass to Lanzillo who made no mistake in tucking away his second goal of the afternoon, again putting the Golden Bears in front of the Rams. Lanzillo picks up his first career multi-goal game. After the goal from Lanzillo, the Rams would press for another goal to even the game. Allen would come away with his only save of the game in the 73rd minute when Trevor Murdock ripped a shot on goal from just inside the box, though Allen was up to the task to shut down the chance for the Rams.
Western New England would see the Rams take one final shot towards goal in the 80th minute as Brady Sorensen took a shot up and over the left side of the net. Suffolk would be denied any further chance in the game as the Golden Bears would take down their CCC opponent for the third time on the season, remaining undefeated in conference play, taking down the Suffolk Rams 2-1.
Inside the Lines:
- Sean Lanzillo would collect two tallies in the game to lift the Golden Bears to victory. Lanzillo would grab his first tally in the 11th minute, following that up with scoring his second of the game in the 55th minute, being credited the eventual game winning goal. Chris Allen and Roger Leland each picked up assists in the win.
- Western New England out shot Suffolk 12-6 in the game, while dominating the first half 8-2. Each team took four shots in the second half.
- Western New England took nine corner kicks in the game, while the Golden Bears defense held the Rams to just one second half corner kick. Each team was whistled twice for an offsides offense.
Up Next on the Schedule:
- Western New England will head out to Troy, New York to take on the Engineers of RPI on Tuesday, October 5 at 7:30 pm. This game will wrap up non-conference play for the Golden Bears.
- Suffolk remains on the road as they head to Babson College on Tuesday, October 5 for a 3:30 pm meeting with the Beavers before returning home for a conference match with Nichols College on Saturday, October 9.
