BEVERLY, Mass. – Freshman Jamie Becker (Fairfield, Conn.) scored both of his team's goals, including breaking a 1-all tie with a goal in the 85th minute as the Endicott College men's soccer team defeated Wentworth Institute of Technology, 2-1, in a Commonwealth Coast Conference Wednesday night at Hempstead Stadium.
With the win the Gulls improve to 9-3-3 overall and 5-0-2 in CCC play while the Leopards see their five-game unbeaten streak (3-0-2) come to an end, falling to 7-7-2 (3-2-2).
Endicott had a pair of shots within a span of a minute early in the contest, however both went wide of the net. Wentworth saw a pair of opportunities get created with a pair of corner kicks 25 seconds apart, however were unable to get a shot off.
The Gulls pressured with a pair of shots on net, both of which were turned away by sophomore Philip Chomicki (Dorchester, Mass.). Wentworth countered with a pair of shots, one was saved by freshman Will Manuel (Mount Pleasant, S.C.), and the other was blocked.
At the 23:55 mark, Endicott got on the scoreboard first. Junior Bobby Ivatts (Walpole, Mass.) carried the ball up the sideline and sent a cross to Becker who put a shot home to the lower right corner.
The second half saw Wentworth pepper the Endicott end with shots, putting three of its first five shots of the half on net, however were unable to get one past Manuel.
With 13:24 remaining in the contest, the Leopards evened the score. Senior Michael Zendan (Charlotte, N.C.) sent a long pass into the box where sophomore Griffin Price (Allendale, N.J.) flicked a header past Manuel.
Becker's game winner came when senior Brendan McLaughlin (Colchester, Conn.) sent a long free kick towards the right side of the box. Senior Dario Neukom (Palma de Mallorca, Spain) headed the kick towards the left where Becker scored on a bicycle kick.
Price had a pair of chances to tie the game, heading a shot wide with 3:41 left and putting a shot on net 24 seconds later which Manuel saved.
Manuel finished with six saves while Chomicki made three saves. Wentworth had a 19-18 shot advantage. Corner kicks were even at 4-all. There were a total of seven cautions issued in the contest, including a red card which forced the hosts to play down a man over the final 7:25.
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