Top-seed Nichols ousts Salve Regina in penalty kicks
DUDLEY, Mass. - The top-seeded Nichols College men's soccer team advanced to the The Commonwealth Coast Conference championship game Wednesday, ousting fourth-seeded Salve Regina, 3-1 in penalty kicks after neither team managed to score through 110 minutes of play. The Bison return to the title match for the second time in three years, and will host third-seeded Gordon on Saturday, November 6th at 1 p.m. on Michael J. Vendetti Field.
Nichols improves its program-best ledger to 15-3-2 with its record-setting 13th shutout of the season. Salve Regina moves to 13-5-2 on the year. Senior midfielder Matt Nash (West Springfield, Mass.) clinched the game in the fifth round for the Bison, who had three opportunities to advance. Leading, 2-0, Mike Schell (South Windsor, Conn.) led off the fourth round and was denied by freshman keeper Adam Boyette (Galloway, N.J.), who came in for the Seahawks after the second overtime. Salve Regina freshman Patrick Charland (Duxbury, Mass.) followed by making his kick to bring it to 2-1 in favor of the Bison before Nash sent Nichols to the title game.
The first half was a defensive battle as there were only a combined nine shots through 45 minutes. Junior Ian Jentgen (Columbus, Ohio) had a late header for the Seahawks, but Nichols keeper Brendan Hamilton (North Attleboro, Mass.) kept the game scoreless headed into the break.
Nichols had the bulk of the chances in the second half, including a Schell shot that Salve Regina sophomore starting keeper Devin O'Gorman (Canton, Mass.) dove to stop in the 47th minute, but the Bison saw several threats sail just wide.
Hamilton came up big in the 95th minute with a point-blank diving stop on junior Sean McAllister's (North Arlington, N.J.) breakaway attempt. In the second overtime, Nichols' Brendan Whitson (Auburn, Mass.) was a key playmaker, but the Bison couldn't get the ball on net.
"This is a heart-breaking way to end your season or even worse, for our seniors, to end their college careers," said Salve Regina head coach Craig O'Rourke II. "Technically, it goes down as a draw for both teams and we just failed to advance on kicks from the penalty mark, so we will take some small measure of comfort from this in knowing that we were not defeated. This match quickly illustrates how important each conference match during the season is. Had we secured just one more conference result, this would have been a home match for us. But regardless, I thought our back four played well for the entire 110 minutes - especially Jimmy Dean who was nothing short of outstanding for us tonight. And Adam Boyette really showcased the quality of goalkeeper that he is with those two saves in the shootout. Now we will take some time to reflect on this season, honor our seniors and award winners, and start our preparations for the 2011 season."
Hamilton finished with two saves on the night, while O'Gorman stopped four shots, three coming in the extra sessions.
Nichols held an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks and enjoyed a 27-14 lead in shots.
Gordon defeated the second seed, Western New England, 3-1, in the semifinals, and won the regular-season matchup against the Bison, 1-0, in Wenham.
Courtesy of Nichols sports information