DUDLEY, Mass. – Junior Scott Coderre (Thompson, Conn.) scored a goal and added an assist as third-seeded Nichols advanced to the CCC Championship semifinals with a 3-1 win over sixth-seeded Wentworth in the quarterfinal round Saturday afternoon on a snow covered Michael J. Vendetti Field. With the win, the Bison venture to second-seeded Gordon, who bested seventh-seeded Salve Regina 3-0. The match will take place on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. in Wenham, Mass.
The Leopards had a chance to light up the scoreboard at 11:13. Senior Josh Deschene (Webster, Mass.) narrowly beat the Nichols defender but the ball rolled just wide of the net.
Sophomore Brendan Whitson (Auburn, Mass.) received a pass from senior Danny Smith (Verona, N.J.) who dribbled the ball toward the net and connected on a low shot at 20:11 for a 1-0 lead. In the 27th minute Coderre snuck the ball past the Leopard keeper after he tried to clear the ball.
Wentworth looked to senior Dan Santacroce (Northford, Conn.) in the 56th minute as he fired a pair of close range shots at senior netminder Brendan Hamilton (North Attleboro, Mass.). Coderre later setup a score by sophomore Pat Gaumond (Holden, Mass.) at 68:01 as he sent the pass from the top right of the 18-yard box.
Junior Matt Racca (Wakefield, R.I.) and senior John Geleski (Wayne, N.J.) combined for the lone Leopard tally. Geleski sent a cross to Racca who planted the ball in the lower right of the net at 77:58.
The Leopards claimed a slim 23-22 edge on shots and took eight of the contest's 14 corner kicks.
Hamilton grabs his 46th career win and collected a season-high 13 saves. Junior John Longo (Needham, Mass.) made nine stops for Wentworth.
Nichols improves to 11-4-2 on the season as Wentworth completes its campaign with a 6-8-3 mark.
(Release Courtesy of Nichols Sports Information)
