NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College men's soccer team used five second half goals to remain unbeaten, defeating visiting Western New England University 5-0 on Tuesday from Silfen Field. With the win, the Camels improve to 5-0-2 on the season, while the Golden Bears fall to 1-4-4.
It was a slow start for both teams, as the squads spent the majority of the first half feeling each other out. Western New England (1-4-4) recorded the first three shots of the contest, but none of the efforts were on goal. Conn (5-0-2) ended the first half with the last two shots, with the first coming from
Sam Boehm (Lexington, Mass.), forcing a save from Braylon Casinghino, but the teams were scoreless at the break.
In the second half, the Camels took over, tallying 11 of the 12 shots in the frame. Conn looked to find the opening goal, and finally did with just under 20 minutes remaining.
Gavin Mpiana (Cape Town, South Africa) crossed a free kick that ricocheted off the foot of
Jake Creus (Rye, N.Y.) to put the Camels up 1-0. Just 22 seconds later, Mpiana once again linked up with Creus to double the lead and put Conn up 2-0 at 70:26.
With just under seven minutes remaining
Christian Perugini (Medway, Mass.) was taken down in the box and given a penalty kick, which he converted with a shot to the left side of the goal. At 86:39,
Gavin Vanden Berg (Lake Forest Park, Wash.) put in a corner that connected with the head of
Charlie Miles (Tarrytown, N.Y.), extending the lead to 4-0. Vanden Berg tallied a goal himself, bending a free kick around the wall, beating the keeper to the far post, and putting the ball past the keeper to the far post, as Conn came away with the 5-0 win.
Conn dominated statistically, outshooting Western New England 13-4 overall, including 8-0 on shots on goal, while being awarded 10 corners to just one for the Golden Bears.
Peter Silvester (Smiths Parish, Bermuda) picked up the win between the sticks, facing no shots in 83 minutes of action, before being replaced by
Casey Shea (Haworth, N.J.) who closed out the game in goal. Five players recorded multiple points for the Camels, as Creus notched four points on two goals, Vanden Berg three points on a goal and an assist, while Mpiana added two assists, and Perugini and Miles both added a goal each.
Casinghino got the start in goal, making three saves on five shots in 76 minutes of work, before being replaced by Ryan Suprin who conceded three goals in 14 minutes. Mike Milazzo paced the Golden Bear attack, tallying two shots in the contest.
The Camels head back out on the road for a conference matchup with Hamilton on Saturday in Clinton, N.Y. at 1:30 p.m.
