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Western New England University

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Men's Soccer 11/2/24
1
Gordon GC (6-5-8, 2-2-5)
1
Western New Eng. WNEU (9-8-4, 5-3-1)
Gordon GC
(6-5-8, 2-2-5)
1
Final
1
Western New Eng. WNEU
(9-8-4, 5-3-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT-2 OT 1 OT-4 F
Gordon GC 0 1 0 0 0 1
Western New Eng. WNEU 0 1 0 0 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Golden Bears Prevail Over Fighting Scots 5-3 in Penalty Kicks

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 2, 2024) – The men's soccer team started the CNE postseason tournament by hosting number six-seeded Gordon College at Suprenant Field on Saturday. Jack Leland helped WNE jump out to a late lead. However, the potential game-winner was matched by Gordon with just over five minutes remaining. The contest went to extra time and then a penalty kick shootout, where WNE would net every one of their shots to win the first-round matchup 5-3 in penalty kicks.

Records:

  • Western New England: 9-8-4 (5-3-1)
  • Gordon College: 6-5-8 (2-2-5)

How it Happened:

The first-round matchup started with Roger Leland and Carson Flake opposing each other in goal for the Golden Bears and Fighting Scots, respectively. The Golden Bears looked to pressure Gordon College early on. They had shots in the 5th and 8th minutes. Neither reached the net. Gordon would maintain possession but could not pressure Leland in goal. WNE saw a chance go by in the 12th minute with a corner kick. Then, Tyler Lewis had a chance saved by Flake in the 15th minute. The ball would find another Golden Bear on the rebound. However, the next shot went over the goal. The beginning of the 18th minute saw WNE send another shot over the goal. WNE kept the momentum building with a corner kick in the 22nd minute and a shot in the 23rd minute, going high and wide of the goal. The teams traded possession for almost the next twelve minutes. WNE would earn a corner kick opportunity, which was cleared by Gordon. The Golden Bears made runs down the field. However, the Gordon defense was tough and would only let WNE settle for difficult shots. They had two shots at the end of the first half, but neither would test Flake in net, and the game was tied 0-0 at the half. The first-half stats saw WNE lead in almost every category. WNE led in shots 8-0, shots on goal 1-0, corner kicks 3-0, and fouls 8-6. Gordon led 1-0 in saves.

The second half saw both teams find more opportunities. It was Gordon who started the second half with more offensive pressure right away. They had a shot in the 47th minute go wide, and a shot in the 48th minute made Roger Leland make a save. That is when the Golden Bears answered by making Carson Flake make more saves. Mike Milazzo had a shot saved by Flake in the 49th minute, and Aiden Casinghino made Flake save a shot in the 50th minute. Flake had to parry that shot out of bounds for a corner kick. The Fighting Scots would clear that attempt. Back and forth the teams went, with Noah Martin making Leland make another save in the 54th minute.

WNE answered with four shots and one corner kick in five minutes. Only one of the shots would test Flake, though, and Flake made the save. WNE made it six shots in a row with shots in the 62nd and 63rd minutes. That was answered by a 64th-minute shot from Gordon. After a few minutes of both teams passing the ball around, WNE saw Flake make another save on Casinghino in the 68th minute. A second shot went over the net in the 69th minute. WNE saw a corner kick chance stifled in the 71st minute. Then, Gordon saw a chance. However, the shot was wide. WNE answered with a shot in the 75th minute going wide, and then Keegan Reim sent a shot off the crossbar in the 77th minute. The ball would deflect down into a swarm of people. Jack Leland would find the ball and poke a shot into the back of the net. WNE had the lead 1-0.

WNE did not fall back and defend. Keegan Reim had a shot saved by Flake, which led to a corner kick in the 80th minute. Nothing would arrive from the corner kick. Then, Gordon would have a shot go over the net in the 82nd minute. WNE was close to the victory and then Gordon answered. An 85th-minute corner kick was taken by Benny Simpson. The corner kick found Max Cardone, who sent the ball crashing into the goal to tie the game at 1-1. WNE saw a corner kick in the 87th minute and a shot go wide in the 88th minute. However, neither team could get the game-winning goal, and the game went to extra time, tied 1-1. The second half stats saw WNE still leading in most categories. WNE led in shots 15-7, shots on goal 6-3, corner kick chances 5-1, and fouls 10-9. Gordon had more saves, 5-2.

In extra time, the teams only found a few chances. Gordon had a corner kick in the first half of extra time and WNE had a shot go wide in that first half, as well. The second half of extra time saw Gordon earn three shots and three corner kicks. WNE would get a shot and a corner kick. However, neither of the teams would capitalize on their major chances, and the game went to a penalty kick shootout.

In the shootout, Roger Leland and Carson Flake were the goalkeepers. WNE would go first. Tyler Lewis made the first attempt. Gilbert Daru answered with a made penalty kick. Jayden Montagna found the back of the net with the second WNE attempt. Samuel Masenheimer countered with a goal. Roger Leland stepped away from the net and scored the third penalty kick for WNE. Noah Martin would hit the post with the next Gordon attempt. Jack Leland followed it with a made penalty kick to give WNE the 4-2 lead in penalty kick makes. Benny Simpson made the next penalty kick for Gordon. However, Aiden Casinghino would net the final penalty kick attempt for the Golden Bears, and advance them into the semifinals of the CNE postseason tournament. WNE won 5-3 in penalty kicks. The final stats for the game saw WNE leading 25-10 in shots, 7-3 in shots on goal, 9-5 in corner kicks, and 19-8 in fouls. Gordon led 6-2 in saves.

Coach's Corner

The head coach of the men's soccer team, Devin O'Neill, was asked for a comment on how the team was able to pull off the win and keep the season alive today. "We played well and kept our composure after conceding the equalizer," O'Neill answered. O'Neill was also asked how O'Neill feels going into the team's next matchup. "Happy to advance and excited for the opportunity on Wednesday."

Roger Leland, who was the goalkeeper throughout the game and into the shootout, while also scoring a penalty kick goal in the shootout, was asked for a comment on the game. "I think they were a tough team to beat, but the energy we had today was high, and it resulted in our play. I thought we dominated the game, and ultimately, our energy and willingness to push our bodies to the limits is what brought us home the win. On to the next one," Leland commented.

Inside the Lines:

  • The Golden Bears played host to a first-round CNE postseason tournament matchup against the Fighting Scots.
  • 76:05 – Jack Leland gave the Golden Bears the lead with a goal assisted by Keegan Reim. The Golden Bears led 1-0.
  • 84:59 – Max Cardone kept the Fighting Scots alive with the equalizing goal assisted by Benny Simpson. The game was tied 1-1.
  • Carson Flake made six saves and let up one goal.
  • Roger Leland made two saves and earned the Golden Bears the win.
  • WNE beat Gordon College 5-3 in a penalty kick shootout.

Up Next on the Schedule:

  • The Golden Bears will move on to the semifinals of the CNE postseason tournament. They will play Suffolk University on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 7:00 PM.
  • The Fighting Scots' season concludes with an overall record of 6-5-8 and a conference record of 2-2-5.
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