Seahawks fall to Golden Bears in finale; seeds set for CCC Championships

NEWPORT, R.I. - As the last game remaining on the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's soccer regular-season schedule, Salve Regina University and Western New England University knew that winning today's game would enhance their postseason seeding. The Golden Bears (10-7-3; 3-4-2 CCC), assured of a spot in the playoffs with yesterday's loss by Wentworth, grabbed the seventh seed with their 2-0 win over the host Seahawks (7-9-1; 4-4-1 CCC) who now go on the road in the first round after failing to clinch the third seed.

Western New England travels to second seed Gordon College in Wenham, Mass., on Saturday for its quarterfinal (7 p.m.); Salve Regina earns the fifth seed and plays at nearby Beverly, Mass., to face Endicott College (1:30 p.m.).

Today's matchup featured the last two CCC men's soccer champions - Salve Regina in 2012, and Western New England in 2013. The Golden Bears have won five titles since joining the league in 2007.

Sophomore goalkeeper Kevin Strobel (Rockland, Mass.) added to his league-leading save total with six today (now has 127 on the season) and posted his seventh shutout of the year.

Freshman Troy Remillard (Palmer, Mass.) scored his third goal of the season in the 24th minute after junior Chad Burke (Boxford, Mass.) and freshman Maurice Young (Walpole, Mass.) had passed the ball around the top of the box.

Salve Regina doubled the shot total of the visitors in the first half, eight to four; both teams managed eight shots apiece in the second half. It was the fifth shutout against the Seahawks this season; three of the previous four blankings were 1-0 finals.

Senior Alex Wasilewski (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) led the Seahawks in shots while Remillard had the most (three) for the Golden Bears.

In the second half, Western New England controlled the play early and made it a two-goal advantage when Burke scored his third goal of the season six and a half minutes into the period.

Seahawk junior goalkeeper Daniel Stern (King's Park, N.Y.) made three saves in the final regular season game.

Western New England improves to 4-2-3 all-time against Salve Regina; the teams had a scoreless tie in last year's regular season meeting. The Golden Bears lost 3-0 at home in their 2014 regular season meeting with Gordon College (September 27); Salve Regina lost 1-0 on a first-half goal in its match at Endicott earlier this season (October 11).