Box Score Box Score

Paxton, Mass. – The New England College men's soccer team used two second half goals, including the game winner by Mark Mangini (Derry, N.H.), to hold off Anna Maria College, 3-2, at AMCAT Field in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference match. NEC improves to 4-3 (2-1 TCCC), while the loss drops the AMCATS to 4-3 (1-2 TCCC).

The first half was controlled by New England College, who led Anna Maria in shots by a 12 to 6 margin. NEC converted on their last shot attempt of the half on an unassisted goal by Pat McLean (East Hartford, Conn.) with 1:34 remaining in the period.

Anna Maria goalkeeper Mike Dandurand (Warwick, R.I.) and WNEC's Pat Harkin (Scituate, R.I.) each turned away three shots in the period.

In the second half, NEC struck again when Kagan Sinclair (Marblehead, Mass.) made an elusive move and found the back of the net for an unassisted goal.

Anna Maria responded with two unanswered goals by senior George Markopoulos (Worcester, Mass.) to tie the game. The first goal was a header by Markopoulos, set up by a long throw in from Michael Powell (Salem, Mass.). The second came off a rebound from a shot by freshman Enco Lika (Worcester, Mass.) that Markopoulos gathered and hammered home.

The Pilgrims regrouped, and with 5:19 remaining in the second half, freshman Aaron Kolb (New Durham, N.H.) assisted Mangini for the game winner, propelling the Pilgrims to an always important conference victory.

Anna Maria had their share of opportunities in the second-half, but goalie Pat Harkin made several great saves including a terrific stop on a shot from AMC's Michael Allard (Monson, Mass.) that looked destined for the goal. Later, Robert Nickerson (Boylston, Mass.) set-up Justin Hyland (Leicester, Mass.) for a great scoring chance that deflected off the far post. Harkin's excellent goaltending (7 saves) proved to be the answer against the AMCATS 13 shot attack in the second half.

Anna Maria hosts Eastern Nazarene September 26th at 2:30 p.m. in a conference matchup. New England College will also continue TCCC play, hosting Western New England on September 26th at 2:30 p.m.

(Courtesy of Anna Maria Sports Information)