Springfield, Mass. (October 10, 2023) - The Men's Soccer team was back at Suprenant Field this afternoon for a conference showdown with the Rams of Suffolk University. The teams entered the matchup ranked number one and two in the conference. Two of the three Riley brothers (Sam and Mike) both picked up goals before Taj Jenson scored late in the second half. The Golden Bears would hold off the Rams for the final ten minutes to seal up a 2-1 victory.
Records:
- Western New England: 3-6-4 (3-1-1)
- Suffolk University: 7-4-2 (2-1-1)
How it Happened:
As the starting lineups were read, it was noted that Braylon Casinghino would be in net for the Golden Bears, and Nathan Harlow would oppose Casinghino on the other end of the field for the Rams. The Rams had the starting kickoff. However, the Golden Bears would gain the ball relatively quickly and make a move on net first. Shay O'Neill and Malik Serisser both had shot attempts go wide right of the net in the 4th and 5th minutes, respectively. The ball would head from team to team. Both teams tried to set up opportunities, with not much coming from either team. O'Neill and Sean Lanzillo were the next two shots in the game. O'Neill's was blocked in the 12th minute, and Lanzillo's was sent wide left in the same minute. Damon Smargon would be the first Ram to get a shot off. However, the Golden Bear defense would force the shot out to the left of the net. Roger Leland followed that shot up with a shot that went high of the net. Then, in the 24th minute, Leland had the first major opportunity with a falling, side-kick volley shot that Harlow had to make a diving save to the right of the goal to keep the Golden Bears off the scoresheet. Jake Thibodeau followed with a shot over the net. Then, in the 27th minute, Mike Riley sent a shot toward the bottom left corner of the net. Harlow made the save.
In the 30th minute, Casinghino would make the first Golden Bear save of the night with a save against Aiden McLaughlin, who shot the ball toward the bottom right corner. That same minute, O'Neill had a shot bounce to Harlow, who made the save in the center of the net. The Golden Bears would not be denied, though. Shay O'Neill sent a pass across the field to Mike Riley in the 34th minute. Riley controlled the ball, took a dribble, and sent an arching shot from the top-left corner of the 18-yard box across the face of the goal and into the bottom right corner of the net. The Golden Bears had the lead, 1-0. Serisser would get right back to putting pressure on the Rams with a shot in the 34th minute. It went wide right, though. The Rams did not waiver as Matthew Belluardo sent a shot at net in the 40th minute. Casinghino made the save. The 41st minute saw Jayden Montagna send a shot high and wide left of the net. Then, Brennan Johnson tested Harlow with a shot right at Harlow that was saved. Finally, in the final seconds of the first half, Ford Lee sent a shot into the box that Casinghino made a save on to wrap up the half. At the break, WNE led on shots 14-4, shots on goal 5-3, and fouls 7-1. The Rams had more corners, 3-1, and Harlow had more saves, 4-3. The score at half saw the Golden Bears leading 1-0.
The second half started similarly to the first. Both teams got quickly acclimated, and the Rams had a shot in the 49th minute. Matteo Simonini sent a shot at Casinghino that was saved. Then, the Golden Bears went to work. Leland fired a shot at goal in the 50th minute, but it slammed off the crossbar. Leland got the rebound and sent another shot at goal, but Harlow was there for the save. The 53rd minute saw Leland and Matt Spruill both go for goal, but both were off-target. The ball would move from team to team, with both teams eyeing a major opportunity. That would wait until the 65th minute when Brady Sorensen sent a shot that Casinghino made a save on. That was followed by Mike Milazzo going for goal in the same minute and Harlow denying the second goal. It could only be denied for so long as with 20 minutes left in the game, Jack Leland received a ball on the left side of the net, down by the end line. Jack Leland volleyed the ball back to Sam Riley, who sent a header shot past Harlow to double the Golden Bear lead. The score was 2-0, WNE.
The Rams would not go away lightly, though. Pierre Willis had a shot that Casinghino had to make a save on in the 77th minute. Ford Lee then had a shot blocked in the 79th minute. After multiple opportunities, the Rams would break through and get their opening goal in the 80th minute. Taj Jenson got the ball and netted a shot on the right side of the Golden Bear net. Jenson had kept the Rams alive with a goal that cut the lead in half. The 84th minute saw Jenson have a shot blocked when going for the equalizing goal. Milazzo had an opportunity running down the left side of the field toward the goal. Milazzo sent a shot, but it went wide left of the net. That was the final opportunity, and the Golden Bears held on for a 2-1 win. The final stats saw shots in favor of the Golden Bears 21-11, shots on goal in favor of WNE 8-7, saves were tied at six per side, corner kicks favored the Rams 6-4, and WNE had more fouls 17-7. The Golden Bears got their third CCC win.
Inside the Lines:
- WNE hosted Suffolk University in a midweek conference matchup.
- Mike Riley scored the opening goal of the game on an assist by Shay O'Neill in the 34th minute.
- Sam Riley scored the second WNE goal in the 71st minute off an assist by Jack Leland. That was Sam Riley's first goal of the season.
- Taj Jenson scored for the Rams in the 80th minute to cut the Golden Bear lead to 2-1.
- Both goalkeepers had six saves during the game.
- The Golden Bears held on for a 2-1 win.
Up Next on the Schedule:
- The Golden Bears will stay at home and welcome the Fighting Scots of Gordon College to town on Saturday, October 14, at 2:30 PM.
- The Rams will return to Boston and welcome Curry College for their next game, which will be held on Saturday, October 14, at noon.
