Men’s Soccer sent out of CCC Tournament in shootout loss to Gordon

Box Score WENHAM, Mass. — The Roger Williams University Men's Soccer battled Gordon College to a 1-1 double overtime tie before falling 4-2 in a shootout in the semifinal round of the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament.

Evan Crocker's (Akron, Ohio) strike into the left webbing of goal clinched the shootout win over the No. 3 Roger Williams Hawks in the Commonwealth Coast Conference semifinals at the Brigham Athletic Complex. The Fighting Scots scored a goal in the first half and the Hawks answered in the second to send the game to overtime. A scoreless pair of OT periods gave way to the penalty shootout, where goalkeeper Josh Spoonhour (Greencastle, Pa.) came up with two big saves.

The Fighting Scots entered the semifinal game with an axe to grind after the Hawks ended Gordon's opportunity for the top seed in conference with a 3-2 win in the regular season finale. Tyler Kuchenbecker (Wellesley, Mass.) notched his first career hat-trick in the win and Gordon had to settle for the No. 2 seed. Roger Williams was also the team to knock Gordon out of the CCC semifinals last season.

Gordon asserted its offensive skill from the outset and despite Roger Williams playing a defensive scheme—the opportunities were there for the Fighting Scots. After two shots that were just off the mark, Caleb Cole (Coatesville, Pa.) found some space just outside the 18-yard box to the left side. Cole turned back inside and sent a screaming low ball just inside the left post. Keeper Tom Mangels (Garden City, N.Y.) tried to slide into position late, but Cole's attempt went off Mangels' gloves and into the net.

Gordon led Roger Williams just 7:45 into the first half. Gordon continued peppering the Hawks' net, but Mangels had a few fingertip saves to keep the deficit manageable. In one of the strangest moments of Gordon's season, Caleb Cole struck a perfect ball inside the right post in the 43rd minute. Cole had Mangels beat to the right side, but the ball was pushed too far right for the clean goal. The ball rattled off the post and straight into the retreating keeper's face for the unusual save.

The Fighting Scots outshot the Hawks 13-2 in the first period and 7-1 on net.

Down a goal, Roger Williams was able to find some holes up the sidelines on the counter plays. Spoonhour made a couple of big saves on breakaways as Gordon clung to a 1-0 lead. The Hawks survived pair of good looks from Cole and Aaron Terjanian (West Chester, Pa.), eventually finding the right combination on the counter in the 78th minute.

Andrew Carlson (Ridgefield, Conn.) found a looseball at midfield and took it down 20 yards himself. The senior then put a through ball that split Gordon's final two defenders to the speedy James Sheldon (Amherst, N.H.). Sheldon slid a shot by the approaching Spoonhour for the energizing equalizer.

Roger Williams played 10 men behind the ball through each of the overtime periods, clogging Gordon's passing lanes to limit the chances to score. The two teams remained tied at one goal aside and headed to penalty kicks.

Senior Andy Guthrie (Beaver Falls, Pa.) buried the first shot with ease to the right side. Spoonhour then stole the show for the Fighting Scots, blocking chances by Sheldon and Cooper Allebrand (Santa Barbara, Calif.), while Cole gave Gordon the big 2-0 lead. Mangels was able to get one back with a pure block on Kristian Kasiguran (Oakwood Village, Ohio). John Schwien (Garnet Valley, Pa.) and Crocker made the Scots final two chances to ice the game.

Roger Williams awaits a potential ECAC bid and finishes their CCC schedule with an overall record of 11-6-3. Gordon improves to 14-4-2, only the second tie of the Derek Potteiger era. The Fighting Scots will travel to top-seeded Nichols on Saturday evening at 5 p.m. with the CCC championship on the line.

- Release courtesy of the Gordon College Sports Information Department

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Players Mentioned

#25 Cooper Allebrand: B/MF; 5' 10"; Senior

#11 Andrew Carlson: F; 5' 11"; Senior

#01 Tom Mangels: GK; 6' 2"; Senior

#14 James Sheldon: F; 6' 1"; Junior

#24 Tyler Kuchenbecker: F; 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#25 Cooper Allebrand
: 5' 10"; Senior
: B/MF

#11 Andrew Carlson
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F

#01 Tom Mangels
: 6' 2"; Senior
: GK

#14 James Sheldon
: 6' 1"; Junior
: F

#24 Tyler Kuchenbecker
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: F