Men's Soccer 11/11/2012 4:41:00 PM

Men’s Soccer falls in ECAC Championship to Coast Guard

Box Score BRISTOL, R.I. – Coast Guard Academy claimed the 2012 ECAC Division III New England Men's Soccer Championship Sunday afternoon over the Roger Williams University Men's Soccer team, winning 4-2 in a shootout after 110 minutes of scoreless action.

The win for Coast Guard marks the Bears' first ECAC Men's Soccer championship since the 2008 season and their fourth ECAC title overall.

With the championship on the line, chippy and physical play characterized the game for both teams, with over 40 fouls called between the two squads in addition to seven cautions.

Scoring attempts for Roger Williams were hard to come by during the game, as Coast Guard outshot the Hawks 21-9 over the course of the game. The Bears nearly put a goal on the board in the 41st minute, with Alexander Lane (Shorewood, Wisc.) passing up the middle to Richard Davies (Charleston, S.C.) and Davies firing a shot in net. However, an offsides call negated the score, leaving the game tied at zero.

Roger Williams had one last attempt in the final minute of double overtime, with Bradley Macdonald (Topsfield, Mass.) sending up a corner kick with 31 seconds left. Kamali Webson (Bellingham, Mass.) was able to put a head on the ball, but could not find the net as the shot sailed wide.

In the shootout, Greg Kennerly (Weymouth, Mass.) stepped up first for Coast Guard, burying his attempt for a 1-0 Bear advantage. Daniel Caruso (Tewksbury, Mass.) then responded with a goal of his own, tying the shootout at one apiece.

Conor Regan had his attempt stopped on a diving save to the right by Hawk keeper Jon Pelloso (Wilbraham, Mass.), giving the Hawks a chance to take the lead. However, the following attempt by Andres Daza (Farmington, Conn.) flew over the net, keeping things tied at one.

Both teams would trade goals on the next attempt, with Walter Heaney (Jacksonville, Fla.) putting one in for Coast Guard and Trevor Hoxsie (Scarborough, Maine) answering for Roger Williams. John Rendon (West Harwich, Mass.), who would later be named ECAC Most Outstanding Player, stepped up next for Coast Guard, scoring to give the Bears a 3-2 advantage. Macdonald followed for Roger Williams, but had his shot saved right up the middle by Bear goalie Richie Burns (Long Beach, Calif.).

Lane came through next for Coast Guard and punched in the goal, giving the Bears the 4-2 shootout win and the ECAC Championship.

Pelloso finished the game with seven saves for Roger Williams, while Burns notched four stops on the day.

Coast Guard ends the year at 13-6-2 while the Hawks close out the campaign with a 17-5-1 record.

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