BOSTON, Mass. – Senior Nick Liccardi (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) scored a pair of goals, including converting on a penalty kick in the 52nd minute which snapped a 1-all tie, as the Western New England men's soccer team edged Wentworth Institute of Technology, 2-1, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action on Sweeney Field.
Wentworth carried play early, however, was unable to generate any scoring chances. A shot from freshman Alex Moore (Salem, Conn.) was blocked in the 16th minute while junior Griffin Price's (Allendale, N.J.) header in the 20th minute went wide.
Liccardi's first goal of the game came off a throw-in from the right side. Sophomore Matt Remillard (Palmer, Mass.) threw the ball towards the box, where junior Brendan Clafin (Burlington, Mass.) flicked the ball towards Liccardi. Liccardi one-timed the pass inside the left post.
The Golden Bears held the lead until the 48:16 minute when Price evened the score. After a Western New England foul, Price stepped up to take the direct kick from 20 yards out, towards the top left of the box. He snuck the ball over the wall and just inside the left post for his second marker of the season.
Nearly three and a half minutes later, a foul was committed in the box. Liccardi stepped up to the spot and gave the visitors a 2-1 lead with 28:15 remaining.
Senior Matthew Sekerak (Winthrop, Maine) kept it a one-goal game with five saves in the second half, including two from right in front. His teammates had chances, including when they had a throw-in late in the contest near the Golden Bear net, however, could not get a shot off.
Junior Dylan Husted (South Deerfield, Mass.) made four saves for Western New England (8-4-2, 1-2-2 CCC) while Sekerak's five second-half saves came in relief of junior Philip Chomicki (Dorchester, Mass.) who made a pair of saves in the opening frame. The Golden Bears had an 18-11 shot advantage while corner kicks were even at 3-all.
Wentworth (5-8-1, 1-3-0) hosts Endicott on Saturday.
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