McInnis Provides Goal, Cohen Makes Six Saves For First Career Shutout As Men's Soccer Notches First Series Victory Over Rival Coast Guard With 1-0 Triumph
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Coast Guard (3-1-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Mass. Maritime (3-0) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME MEN'S SOCCER
Monday, September 16, 2013
Clean Harbors Stadium, Buzzards Bay, Mass.
FINAL: MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME 1, COAST GUARD 0
BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. -- Sophomore Connor McInnis's (Duxbury, Mass.) goal in the 21st minute of play proved to be the game-winner as Massachusetts Maritime notched its first victory in the 23-match series with rival Coast Guard by a 1-0 final in a non-league college men's soccer match played Monday evening at Clean Harbors Stadium.
McInnis found the back of the net from 40 yards out on the deciding tally for the host Buccaneers, who are off to their first 3-0 start in 12 years and bested the visiting Bears (3-1-1) after posting just two ties (1-1 both in 1980 and 2004) and 20 setbacks in the series between the two schools that started in 1976. After Coast Guard senior keeper Carlos Gonzalez (Miami, Fla.) came out to play a deflection outside his penalty area, McInnis was able to pick up the loose ball and loft a shot for his first marker of the season, and Massachusetts Maritime freshman Joe Cohen (Plymouth, Mass.) made that stand up in goal with six saves to earn his second victory and first career shutout.
The Bears outshot the Buccaneers by a 15-3 margin (7-1 in shots on target), as Cohen denied Coast Guard senior Matt Epperly (Fredericksburg, Va.) from point blank range with just over three minutes to play after Massachusetts Maritime senior back Daniel Riley (Hanover, Mass.) made a defensive save on a blast from Bear senior Joseph Bodzewski (Seattle, Wash.) in the 64th minute. The visitors took all eight corners on the night, as neither Gonzalez nor junior keeper Richie Burns (Long Beach, Calif.) were called upon to make a save for Coast Guard.
"This was one of the most amazing defensive performances I've seen in all of my years (21) coaching," Massachusetts Maritime Head Coach Greg Perry said after the contest. "They just kept coming after us, and we responded. We took advantage of space when we had it, and Joe came up big in goal--an amazing defensive effort and a great team victory."
Massachusetts Maritime hosts Nichols in a non-league outing on Wednesday evening at Clean Harbors Stadium beginning at 7:00 p.m., while Coast Guard opens New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon by hosting Babson in New London, Conn. beginning at Noon.
