SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Freshman Jayden Montagna's (Agawam, Mass.) goal nearly 15 minutes into the second half held up as the game winner as the Western New England University men's soccer team held on to defeat Wentworth Institute of Technology, 3-2, in the regular-season finale for both squads.
Despite the loss, Gordon's 3-1 win over Curry gives the Leopards the No. 8 playoff seed and will travel to seventh-seeded Gordon for the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament First Round game on Thursday (October 27), at a time to be announced.
RECORDS:
WIT: 4-10-3 (2-6-1 CCC)
WNE: 9-6-3 (6-3-0 CCC)
SCORING:
- WIT: Nick Lenz (TJ Prouty), 15:48
- WNE: Mile Milazzo (Connor Swanson), 28:04
- WNE: Malik Serriser (Sean O'Neill), 44:50
- WNE: Jayden Montagna (Chris Allen), 54:48
- WIT: Augustin Edwin, Jr. (Jacob Dukeshire), 82:46
SHOTS (ON GOAL):
WIT: 16 (9); WNE: 27 (9)
GOALIE SAVES:
WIT: Louis Quintero, 6; WNE: Roger Leland, 7
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Wentworth's first scoring chance came in the eighth minute when a shot from junior Jacob Dukeshire (Nashua, N.H.) put a shot on net that was saved by junior Roger Leland (Brimfield, Mass.). Western New England countered nearly 30 seconds later but senior Louis Quintero (Boston, Mass.) made a save on the attempt.
- The Leopards took a 1-0 lead at the 15:48 mark as senior TJ Prouty (Glendora, Calif.) sent a ball through traffic to sophomore Nick Lenz (Danbury, Conn.). Lenz broke free and put a shot home to the lower right corner.
- A header in the 21st minute nearly tied the game for the Golden Bears, however, the attempt went over the net. The hosts tied the game at the 27:27 mark when freshman Connor Swanson sent a ball towards the box where sophomore Mike Milazzo (Old Lyme, Conn.) headed the ball to the lower middle of the net.
- Western New England took the lead with just 10 seconds left in the half. A foul by Wentworth gave Western New England a free kick from the top right of the box. Senior Sean O'Neill (Belchertown, Mass.) served a curving free kick towards the lower left of the box where junior Malik Serriser (Ludlow, Mass.) tucked the volley inside the left post.
- Prouty put a shot on net in the 50th minute which was saved by Leland and Quintero made a save in the 53rd minute, keeping it a 2-1 game. The Golden Bears scored at the 54:48 mark when senior Chris Allen (Somers, Conn.) assisted on a freshman Jayden Montagna (Agawam, Mass.) goal at 54:48.
- Lenz nearly brought Wentworth back within one when his shot in the 63rd minute was saved. The ensuing corner kick was cleared out by the Golden Bears.
- Wentworth continued to pressure and, in the 83rd minute, Lenz took a shot that was saved by Leland. Off the corner kick, there was a scrum in front where Dukeshire possessed the ball and fed senior Augustin Edwin, Jr. (New Bedford, Mass.) who brough the Black & Gold within one with 7:14 left.
- With 18 seconds left, sophomore Raphael Ribeiro (Medford, Mass.) gave the Leopards one last chance as he served a corner kick towards the goal mouth where Leland punched the ball out. Wentworth was unable to gain possession as time expired.
THE SERIES:
- Today was the 18th all-time meeting between the two teams. Western New England leads 15-2-1 and has won the last four meetings
NEXT UP:
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