NEWPORT, R.I. – The Connecticut College men's soccer team used a dominant second half to take down host Salve Regina 5-0 on Tuesday night from Toppa Field. With the win, Conn improves to 2-1 on the year, while Salve Regina falls to 2-3 overall.
It was a fast start for Conn as the Camels tested Salve's keeper Gabriel Bazikas early, recording three shots on target in the opening four minutes, but were unable to get the breakthrough. Salve answered with the next four shots of the contest, with two on target, but Peter Silvester (Smiths Parish, Bermuda) was up to the task the game remained scoreless through 20 minutes of play.
The teams traded shots over the next few minutes, before Conn ended the half with the last four shots, including two on target, but neither side found the back of the net, as the game was scoreless at the break.
The Camels picked up where they left off to start the second half, as Gavin Mpiana (Cape Town, South Africa) forced a save within two minutes. Just 30 seconds later Jorge Mendo (Zaragoza, Spain) connected with Jack Kelesoglu (Westfield, N.J.) who found the back of the net, as Conn took a 1-0 lead at 47:26.
Salve answered after the opening goal with three straight shots, but Silvester and the Camels held strong, before Conn earned back-to-back corner kicks. On the second corner, Sam Boehm (Lexington, Mass.) delivered the ball into the box, finding Alessandro Horvath Diano (Budapest, Hungary), who made it 2-0 at 55:23.
Five minutes later, Marco Perugini (Medway, Mass.) hooked with Mpiana who slotted the ball into the back of the net, extending the lead to 3-0. The Camels pushed the lead to 4-0 with just under 18 minutes remaining as Caleb Huang (Hopkinton, Mass.) recorded his first collegiate goal off an assist from Aidan Keith (Chesterfield, N.J.). With just over four minutes remaining, Christian Perugini (Medway, Mass.) sealed the game, as Conn came away with the 5-0 win.
Conn outshot Salve 21-14 overall, including 15-7 on target, while holding a 6-2 advantage on corner kicks.
Silvester got the start in goal, finishing with five saves in 74 minutes, before being replaced by Casey Shea (Haworth, N.J.) who made two saves. Five Camels recorded one goal, as Horvath Diano, Huang, Kelesoglu, Mpiana, and Perugini found the back of the net, while Boehm, Keith, Mendo, and Perugini each added one assist.
Bazikas got the start in goal for the Seahawks, who fall to 2-3 on the year.
Conn (2-1 overall) returns to action on Saturday afternoon as the Camels host Bowdoin in a NESCAC showdown at 2 p.m. on Freeman Field.
