Late Goal Helps Nichols Defeat Salve Regina, 2-1
DUDLEY, Mass. (Oct. 12) – Nichols sophomore Fred Willard (Webster, Mass.) scored his first collegiate goal which also proved to be the game-winner to lift men's soccer past Salve Regina 2-1 in a Commonwealth Coast Conference match on Wednesday afternoon. With the win, Nichols improves to 9-3-1 overall and 4-2-1 in the league. Salve Regina slips to 5-8-1 on the season and 1-4-1 in the conference.
The first half remained scoreless with Salve Regina holding slight 7-4 advantage on shots and a 2-1 margin on corner kick opportunities.
Sophomore Brendan Whitson (Auburn, Mass.) scored his third goal of the season when he connected on a 12-yard shot to put Nichols on the scoreboard at 73:08. Senior Danny Smith (Verona, N.J.) registered his fourth assist of the season as he helped setup the scoring chance. The Seahawks responded just over six minutes later as freshman Zachary Kraft (Tenafly, N.J.) netted a chip shot that was served up by classmate Issa Demirgioglu (Smithfield, R.I.) to even the match and score his fifth goal of the year.
Willard provided the heroics at 87:06 as he booted a feed from sophomore Scott Palmerino (Southbridge, Mass.) past the Seahawk keeper.
Each squad had a missed opportunity in the second half. The visitors had a chance to light up the scoreboard first when senior Christopher Knoth (East Islip, N.Y.) took a shot from 20-yards out at 69:23 only to be deflected by senior Brendan Hamilton (North Attleboro, Mass.). Willard had a close range shot with 6:59 remaining which was stopped by Seahawk rookie keeper Kyle Kureczka (Berlin, Conn.).
Salve Regina outshot the Bison 13-9 on the day as both teams would have four corner kick chances.
Hamilton improves to 8-2-1 in net for Nichols as he collected five saves, while Kureczka made four stops and slips to 4-5-1 on the season.
