Men's Soccer off to impressive start
New England College men’s soccer is off to their best start in program history as the Pilgrims improved to 7-2-2 overall beating the visiting Eastern Nazarene College Crusaders 2-0 Saturday afternoon in Henniker. With the win the Pilgrims extend their unbeaten streak to nine games and improve to 5-0-1 in conference play. The loss drops the Crusaders to 1-9-1 overall and 1-6-0 in conference action.
The two teams would battle through the opening 32 minutes scoreless before NEC’s Kwasi Acheampong (Webster, Mass.) would one-time a pass from Dean Smith (Schwenksville, Pa.) at the 32:13 mark giving the Pilgrims the 1-0 lead. NEC would outshoot Eastern Nazarene 9-1 in the opening half but the Crusader defense would hold strong allowing just three shots on net and keeping the Pilgrims to just the one first half goal.
The Pilgrims would continue to control much of the offense in the second half out shooting the Crusaders 11-6 but NEC would continue to struggle to convert as Eastern Nazarene’s keeper Andrew Trice (Quincy, Mass.) would make five second half saves. NEC’s Dean Smith would give the Pilgrims some breathing room late as he would score his fifth goal of the season off a nice pass from Keith Vosmus (Brunswick, Maine) with just under ten minutes remaining in regulation.
Leading the way for NEC was Smith who scored a goal and picked up an assist. Leading the way for Eastern Nazarene was Matt Woodley (Setauket, N.Y.) who finished with two shots on goal.
Picking up the shutout win in goal for the Pilgrims was Jon Mayo (Merrimack, N.H.) who finished with five saves on the afternoon. In goal for the Crusaders was Trice who finished with eight saves.
New England College will be back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 8 when they host conference opponent Anna Maria College at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Nazarene College will host conference opponent Curry College on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m.
