BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Men's Soccer season came to an end on Tuesday afternoon as they were defeated by the visiting Leopards from Wentworth Institute of Technology in the Semifinals of the TCCC Playoffs. The Leopards had a tally late in both halves and kept the Hawks offense in check as they won by a score of 2-0.
Late in the first half Elliot Richmond (Amherst, Mass.) took the ball away from a Hawks defender that was trying to settle a free kick. Richmond created a breakaway and put the ball past the Hawks Goalkeeper to put the visitors up 1-0. The second goal would come in the 84th minute as RWU had most of the team playing offense trying to get the equalizer. The Leopards would create an odd man rush on a through ball set up by John Golden (Whitman, Mass.) and Brian Pearsall (Sanford, Maine), and Richmond would finish to score his second of the game and seal the victory for Wentworth.
The game was played with high energy and emotion as both teams received yellow cards, and one RWU player received a Red Card. Both teams were able rattle off 18 shots apiece, but the only goals came off the foot of Richmond. Pearsall recorded six saves in the win while Peter Plate (Commack, N.Y.) had two saves in the losing effort.
After the game Coach Cook said, “The break-away goal at the end of the first half was huge. After that they (WIT) buckled down on defense and we just couldn't get anything going. Congratulations to them on a game well played, and best of luck in the finals.”
The Hawks season comes to a close with the loss with an overall record of 14-6-1 and a TCCC record of 9-3-1. The Leopards move on to the Conference Finals where they will meet Western New England College. The game will be played in Springfield, Mass. as WNEC is the number one seed, on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
