NEW LONDON, Conn. – After being ranked as the No. 10 team in the nation earlier in the afternoon, the Connecticut College men's soccer team remained unbeaten, defeating the Coast Guard Academy 3-0 on Tuesday afternoon on Freeman Field. With the win, Conn improves to 8-0-3, while the Coast Guard falls to 2-4-5.
It was a slow start for either squad, as the teams felt each other out in the first matchup between the neighboring schools since 2016. Conn (8-0-3) got the first shot of the contest at 14:22, but Marco Cerezo's (Malaga, Spain) was stopped. With just under 20 minutes to play in the half, Matt Scoffone (Thornton, Pa.) was fouled in the box, being awarded a penalty kick. Scoffone stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the ball down the middle to put the Camels up 1-0 at 25:30. The Coast Guard (2-4-5) put their first shot on target at 38:08, but Peter Silvester (Smiths Parish, Bermuda) made the easy save, as Conn led 1-0 at the break.
The Camels started the second half quickly, doubling their advantage just five minutes into the frame. Nate Pilson's (Wilmington, Del.) initial shot was blocked, but the rebound fell to Samuel Brockelman (Topsfield, Mass.) who finished to put Conn up 2-0. The Camels continued to put pressure on the Bears, adding a third goal at 73:17. Jordan Viotto (Morristown, N.J.) worked down the right wing and cut the ball back to the edge of the box, finding Christian Perugini (Medway, Mass.) who fired to the far corner, extending the Conn advantage to 3-0.
Conn dominated the Coast Guard statistically, outshooting the Bears 22-4 overall, including an 8-1 advantage on both shots on goal and corner kicks.
Silvester got the start between the sticks, making one save in 78 minutes of action, before being replaced by Casey Shea (Haworth, N.J.) who faced no shots in 12 minutes of work. Brockelman, Perugini, and Scoffone paced the Camels, each tallying a goal, while Viotto added an assist.
Josh Hudson got the start in goal for the Bears, making five saves on eight shots. The Coast Guard was paced by Miquel Penella, who recorded two shots, with one on goal.
The Camels continue their season-high five-game home stand, as Conn hosts Colby on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Freeman Field.
