NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College men's soccer team returned to action for the conference home opener, rolling past visiting Hamilton 2-0 on a rainy and windy night from Silfen Field.
Conn came out of the gates strong, recording the first two shots of the game, with Jayden Fokuo (Chicago, Ill.) putting an effort high, before Marco Perugini (Medway, Mass.) was stopped by Tobin Walsh. However, at 12:15 the Camels opened the scoring.
Max Weiss (Weston, Conn.) attempted to play a ball across the face of goal that bounced up in the air, falling to Perugini who used a deft backheel flick over the keeper and into the far post to put the Camels in front 1-0.
Hamilton answered with the next four shots, with the first effort being blocked. The second chance came from Troy Miller who nearly evened the score at 20:11. Miller bent a shot towards the far upper corner, but Connor Smith (Columbia, S.C.) came up with a massive save, diving and getting both hands on the ball to deflect it out for a corner.
Following the stretch from the Continentals, Conn answered with four more chances on goal, with Sean Fernandez-Davila (Stow, Mass.), Gavin Mpiana (Cape Town, South Africa), and Max Lee (London, England) being denied as the Camels led 1-0 at the break.
Conn continued their strong play to open the second half, nearly doubling the advantage at 49:54. Devin Kellan (Greenwich, Conn.) worked down the far sideline, before cutting in at the edge of the box and firing towards the far post, but striking the crossbar, keeping the lead at 1-0.
Just a minute and a half later though, the Camels did find a second goal. Perugini worked down the near sideline, playing a ball into the box that made its way to Chase Corcoran (Lincoln, R.I.) who scuffed his shot, with the ball falling right to Weiss who turned and fired home to make it 2-0 at 51:25.
The Continentals tried to get back into the game, but the Camels defense held strong, closing out the rest of the match, as Conn earned the 2-0 win.
Conn outshot Hamilton 16-8, holding a 10-1 advantage on shots on goal, and a 5-4 edge on corner kicks.
Smith got the win between the sticks, finishing with one fantastic save. Weiss led the way with three points on a goal and an assist, with Perugini adding a goal, and Corcoran chipping in an assist.
Walsh got the start in net, recording eight saves for Hamilton.
Conn (5-1-1, 3-1-1 NESCAC) heads back out on the road next weekend, as the Camels travel to Williamstown, Mass. to take on Williams at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 3.
