Borges scores twice; Cougars win 4-2

NEWPORT, R.I. — Senior Jordan Borges scored two first-half goals for Salve Regina University men's soccer and both tied the score against the visiting Cougars of Clark University. Clark tallied two unanswered goals in the second half to win over Salve Regina University in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's soccer action, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon at Toppa Field.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Clark 4, Salve Regina 2
Records: Salve Regina (6-8-0, 0-4-0 NEWMAC), Clark (3-8-3, 1-3-1 NEWMAC)
All-Time Series: Clark improves to 3-1 all-time in this series which began in 1983. Today was the first meeting as NEWMAC members. Salve Regina won last year on Toppa Field, 3-2, with three second-half goals after a 2-0 deficit. Emmet Schuele and Alec Quiroz connected for two of the Seahawk goals in the 2022 win.

SUMMARY:

• 10:52 CU Anyolo Makatiani (1) scored his first goal of the season as Teddy Donahue fed him a long breakaway pass. | Clark 1, Salve Regina 0
• 11:57 SRU Jordan Borges (5) got a free-kick feed from Michael Manousos and ripped it through traffic. | Clark 1, Salve Regina 1
• 34:55 CU Another long pass from Luca Echeumuna found William Lopez (3) who finished it to retake the lead. | Clark 2, Salve Regina 1
• 36:05 SRU Jordan Borges (6) on a penalty kick stuttered on his approach and got the Cougar keeper leaning. | Clark 2, Salve Regina 2
• 70:59 CU Myles Nelson-Atkins had the second header off a Cougar corner kick and Teddy Donahue (3) touched it past the Seahawk keeper. | Clark 3, Salve Regina 2
• 89:09 CU Marc Kim (2) collected the carom off a save by Aidan Figueira from a Anyolo Makatiani shot. | Clark 4, Salve Regina 2

NOTEWORTHY:

• Salve Regina had double-digit shots in both halves (16, 12) and dominated Clark, 28 to 13. Shots on goal were much closer with Seahawks edging the Cougars, 13 to 9.
• Salve Regina had six more corner kick opportunities, 13 to 5, than the visitors.
• The Cougars were flagged offsides three times while the Seahawks did not commit that offense.
• Andrew DiStefano picked up his second win while making 11 saves; Aidan Figueira had five stops for the Seahawks.
• Jordan Borges added to his team-leading totals in goals (6) and shots (40).
• Borges is 4-for-4 on penalty kicks in 2023.

POSTGAME THOUGHTS FROM COACH O'ROURKE

"This was a match of mistakes. Clark made two that we were able to score on. We made far more and they were able to capitalize on four and secure the result. Overall, this was just a very poor performance out of us today. Defensively, we made several bad errors at match-critical moments, conceded our defensive shape over and over again, and handed chances to our opponent. I am somewhat in disbelief over my side's performance today as we have again left three conference points on the table. We now have four matches remaining and need to be much better if we are going to find a way into post-season play this year."

ON THE HORIZON:
Salve Regina has two road matches this week - on Wednesday at United States Coast Guard Academy (7 p.m.) and on Saturday at Emerson College (1 p.m.) - in NEWMAC action.