WENHAM, Mass. – Junior Matt Cicalis (Bridgewater, Mass.) scored a goal and added an assist to help pace the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over Gordon in a battle of first-place teams in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Saturday afternoon.
The win snaps a six-game series losing and eight-game (0-7-1) series winless streak for the Leopards against the Fighting Scots and brings Wentworth's record to 9-2-4 (5-0-1 CCC). The Black & Gold are now unbeaten in their last 11 contests (7-0-4). Gordon, which was ranked fourth in the latest NSCAA New England Division III Poll and receiving votes in the NSCAA Division III National Poll, drops its second straight contest to stand at 9-3-1 (4-1-1).
For the second game in a row, Wentworth jumped on the board within the first 10 minutes. At the 7:41 mark Cicalis headed in a cross from classmate Michael Zendan (Charlotte, N.C) which deflected off the hands of senior Josh Spoonhour (Greencastle, Pa.).
Gordon nearly tied the game in the 14th minute with a pair of good chances. Sophomore Josh Beveridge (Anchorage, Alaska) fired a ball that was tipped away by sophomore keeper Joe Schallmo (Norwood, Mass.), but landed back in the six-yard box. Freshman Matt Chartier (Concord, N.H.) one-timed the rebound in what looked like a sure-fire goal, but it was knocked away by a Wentworth defender to keep the game 1-0.
The Leopards jumped ahead 2-0 with just over four minutes left in the half. Off a Fighting Scot foul, junior Emmett Basaca (San Diego, Calif.) served a free kick towards the box where junior Joe Kalil (Franklin, Mass.) flicked a header to the lower eft corner.
Less than two minutes later, the hosts cut the lead in half. Freshman Mark Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio) sent a ball over the top of the Wentworth defense, allowing classmate Michael Cuocci (Baltimore, Md.) to run onto the ball and beat Schallmo. Gordon had a 9-5 shot advantage at the break.
At 56:43, Wentworth got an insurance goal from sophomore Noah Martins (Dartmouth, Mass.), who notched his 11th marker of the season. Cicalis fed Martins from the top of the box to the right side who deposited the ball inside the left post for a 3-1 lead.
Wentworth's defense held strong throughout the second half, allowing none of the Fighting Scots' five shots to go on target.
Schallmo improved to 4-0-2 on the season as he three saves. Spoonhour made four saves for Gordon. Gordon had advantages in shots (14-12) and corner kicks (3-2).
Wentworth looks to maintain its stay atop the conference standings when the Leopards host Eastern Nazarene Wednesday night.
