Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

New England College

Men’s Soccer Storms into GNAC Quarterfinals
Photo: Frank Poulin
Men’s Soccer Storms into GNAC Quarterfinals
0
Lasell LASELL (4-10-3, 4-7-3)
3
Winner New England Col. NEW ENGL (9-6-4, 6-5-3)
Lasell LASELL
(4-10-3, 4-7-3)
0
Final
3
New England Col. NEW ENGL
(9-6-4, 6-5-3)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Lasell LASELL 0 0 0
New England Col. NEW ENGL 3 0 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men’s Soccer Storms into GNAC Quarterfinals

HENNIKER, N.H. – Playing in the first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) playoff game in school history, the seventh-seeded New England College men's soccer team dominated out of the gate to claim a 3-0 victory over visiting tenth-seeded Lasell University on Thursday evening at Don Melander Field in Henniker, New Hampshire, storming into the GNAC Tournament quarterfinals.                                                                            

THE BASICS
Score:                    #10 Lasell 0, #7 New England College 3
Records:               Pilgrims 8-6-4, 6-5-3 GNAC | Lasers 4-9-3, 4-7-3 GNAC

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Just two days after being upset by the Lasers down in Newton to lose any chance for a bye into the next round, the determined 'Grims set the tone when they came out firing, tallying seven shots in the first five minutes of the game, scoring two goals in the first nine minutes, taking a 3-0 lead into halftime. At 4:13 into the first half, a beautiful free kick by NEC junior defenseman Darren Mota (Inverness, Scotland) from thirty yards out found star senior forward Logan Cassin (Penacook, N.H.) in the box. Cassin's header bounced off the crossbar but found freshman midfielder Santiago Sanchez (Guatemala City, Guatemala) who finished for his sixth collegiate goal to give the Pilgrims the 1-0 lead.
  • Less than four minutes later it would be Cassin scoring his 12th goal of the season with assists to sophomore midfielder Wyatt Flibbert (Windham, Maine) and junior midfielder William Scala (Manchester, N.H.). Cassin would score again in the 32nd minute with an assist to senior midfielder Alex Rust (Hooksett, N.H.), giving Cassin thirteen goals on the year.
  • In the second half, Lasell, desperate to keep their season alive, brought a renewed sense of urgency, pressuring NEC throughout. But time and again, the 'Grims' defense held tough, turning the Lasers away empty-handed.   
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
  • NEC junior goalkeeper Hayden Walker (Manchester, N.H.) posted one of his best games of the career for the 'Grims, tallying ten saves on the night for his second shutout of the season.
  • Lasell junior goalkeeper Antonio Centracchio (Springfield, Mass.) finished with four stops for the Lasers.
  • Cassin led all players with ten shots in the match.
  • Lasell junior forward Daniel Faynstein (Needham, Mass.) had a team-high eight shots for the Lasers.

UP NEXT
  • With the win, NEC advances to the GNAC quarterfinals for the first time in school history. They'll travel to second-seeded Johnson & Wales University on Saturday for a 12:00 p.m. game.
For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
 
Print Friendly Version