MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – Senior David Cook's goal in the 68th minute helped lift the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Salve Regina University in a Commonwealth Coast Conference contest played at Gaudet Field.
With the win, the Leopards improve to 8-3-0 overall and even their league record to 2-2 while the Seahawks fall to 3-7-1 (1-3).
Wentworth concluded the first half with 11 shots, but none of their attempts sailed past Salve Regina freshman Michael Payan (Fort Lee, N.J.) The Seahawks registered four tries, including pair of shots late in the frame by freshman Matthew O'Donnell (Mars, Pa.) and junior Nolan Brady (Needham, Mass.), but the first attempt was denied by Wentworth freshman Matthew Sekerak (Winthrop, Maine), while the second sailed past the Black and Gold's net.
The stalemate continued into the second half with both teams trading shots before Cook would score the game's lone marker. Sophomore Michael Zendan (Charlotte, N.C.) set up the play with a throw in from the left side., which Cook possessed and after dribbling into the box, fired a shot past Payan.
Seniors Sam Martins (Dartmouth, Mass.) and Alberto Benhamu (Caracas, Venezuela) each attempted to grow the lead with shots at 72:53 and 77:31, but neither shot reach the Seahawks' net. Brady and graduate student Kyle Knoth (East Islip, N.Y.) each fired one shot during the final minutes, but both tries sailed high above the Leopards' net.
Wentworth concluded the match with 17 shots and a pair of corners, while Salve Regina tallied eight shots and four corners. Sekerak made three saves while Payan turned away seven shots.
Both teams return to action this week as Salve Regina hosts Wesleyan University on Tuesday, October 6 at 4:00 p.m., while Wentworth entertains WPI on Wednesday, October 7 at 7:00 p.m.
