MacDonald scores game-winner in second OT

BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Evan MacDonald's (Candia, N.H.) golden goal 2:44 into the second overtime session lifted the Salve Regina University men's soccer team to a 4-3 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology Wednesday night on Sweeney Field in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action.

With the win the Seahawks remain undefeated, improving to 14-0-2 overall and 5-0-1 in CCC play while the Leopards slip to 5-10-1 (1-5-0) after suffering their fifth one-goal defeat of the season.

The hosts jumped on the board at the 6:31 mark as freshman TJ Prouty (Glendora, Calif.) netted his first collegiate goal off a freed from classmate Erik Treble (Massapequa Park, N.Y.). Less than 10 minutes later, Wentworth jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a goal from senior Noah Martins (Dartmouth, Mass.). Martins' goal came off a long goal kick from junior Philip Chomicki (Dorchester, Mass.), who picked up his first career helper.

With just under 12 minutes remaining in the first half, Salve Regina sliced the lead in half as MacDonald sent a pass to sophomore Jacob Guerra (Colchester, N.H.), who put home a shot to the upper right corner.

Senior Conor Woods (Otisville, N.Y.) tied the game at 2-all when he put a header inside the left post off a cross from senior Matthew O'Donnell (Pittsburgh, Pa.) at the 68:59 mark. Just over 10 minutes later, Wentworth regained the lead as Martins' carried the ball in and took a shot which was saved by senior Michael Payan (Fort Lee, N.J.). The rebound came out to freshman Jomar Martins (Braintree, Mass.), who tapped home his first career marker. The lead wouldn't last long as less than a minute later, sophomore Casey Kelly (Waldrick, N.J.) sent a ball through the box where junior Donald Igo (Needham, Mass.) put the shot home.

Chomicki came up big in the 88th minute as he stopped an initial shot from sophomore Owen Stevenson (Middletown, Conn.) and a rebound shot from Igo. With less than a minute remaining, junior Cameron Pacheco(Woburn, Mass.) nearly won the game for the Black & Gold, however, his bid was denied by Payan.

Both teams had one shot in the first overtime and, in the second overtime, Igo put a shot on net 10 seconds in which Chomicki saved. With 7:16 remaining, O'Donnell picked up his second helper of the night when he sent a past in front to MacDonald, who found the upper middle of the net for the game winner.

Payan finished with two saves while Chomicki made 12, including eight in the second half. Salve Regina had a 26-13 shot advantage and a 7-3 edge on corner kicks. Salve Regina has set a program record for goals in a season, 54 (previous best of 51 in 1992).

The Seahawks have been getting attention in national polls including:

• United Soccer Coaches – New England Region
  http://unitedsoccercoaches.org/web/Rankings/College_Rankings/NCAA_DIII_MEN/web/rankings/ncaa/diii_men.aspx
• D3soccer.com National Poll – Receiving Votes Section
  http://d3soccer.com/top25/men/2018/week7
• HEROsports.com Bennett Rank
  https://herosports.com/rankings/college-d3-mens-soccer

"As always, it's nice to be mentioned on the national stage in these various rankings," says Salve Regina head coach Craig O'Rourke II. "But our team remains focused on the here and now and taking each day of this season one day at a time. We want to constantly be working to improve our overall game and not allow ourselves to plateau or become satisfied with where we are right now in this season. Only the best teams get to play in November and we want to produce our best soccer once the calendar turns."