Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn. – In the battle of nationally ranked teams number 14 Coast Guard tied number 18 Wheaton 0-0 in NEWMAC competition.
The first half had few scoring opportunities as the majority of the period was played in the midfield with each defense holding strong.
Coast Guard had their best opportunity of the half off a restart when sophomore Caelan Harshaw sent a ball into the middle of the box from forty yards out. Sophomore Brad McNell headed the ball on goal but junior Matt Dickey made a sprawling save to knock the ball down. Senior Matthew Bogdan but the rebound back on goal but a Wheaton defender was there to head it off the line and clear the ball out of danger.
Towards the end of the half the Lyons freshman Amara Sesay found himself with the ball in the Bears eighteen yard box. Sesay fired a shot on goal but was blocked by a Coast Guard defender. Sesay collected the rebound from the block and fired another shot on goal. Senior Richie Burns dove to his left and made the save knocking the ball out of play for a Wheaton corner kick.
In the second half the Bears defense was tested numerous times by a fast and strong Lyons' attack.
Midway through the half senior Matheus Goncalves managed to find space down the left side and sent a cross into Coast Guard penalty box. Freshman Louis Chaves received the service and sent a shot on goal that got past Burns but was stopped by a Bears defender and cleared out of play.
Wheaton continued to press as senior Scott Enman received a through ball down the center of the field which put him one on one with Burns. Enman fired a shot on goal but Burns was fast off his line and made a sprawling save to his right snuffing out the Lyons' attack.
Regulation ended and defense continued to be the theme in overtime as neither team was able to break the deadlock.
Wheaton had the best opportunity in the second overtime when senior Travis Blair found an open lane and dribbled to the top of the Bears eighteen yard box. Blair took a hard, low shot, but Burns was up to the task again diving to his right and deflecting the ball out of play.
Burns made ten saves bringing Coast Guard record to 13-1-2 on the season and 4-1-1 in the NEWMAC. Burns continues to rewrite the record books at the Academy as he passed Jim Wimberley (1998-2000) for most shutouts in a single season with his tenth of the year, and also continues to add to his career shutout record with his 26th. He is still undefeated on the season with a 12-0-2 record and has not allowed a goal in the last 714:44 that he has played.
Dickey made six saves for the Lions taking their record to 14-2-2 on the season and 5-0-1 in conference play. Dickey also continues to have a tremendous season as he has only allowed two goals, has a .952 save percentage, and a .21 goals against average. He has the second most shutouts in the conference with six.
The Bears wrap up their regular season Saturday, November 1st when they host Springfield College. Game time is 1:00 pm.
