Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn. – In a wet and rainy game the Bears wrapped up their regular season with a 2-2 tie against Springfield College in NEWMAC play.
The wind played a clear factor in the first half as the ball spent a significant amount of time in Coast Guard's half. The Bears attempts to clear the ball out of their end where held up in the air by wind and often times pushed the ball back.
Early in the first half senior Ryan Malone took a hard, low shot from 40 yards out. The ball was tailing away from senior Richie Burns but he dove to his right and knocked it out of play for a Pride corner.
Coast Guard made the best of their few chances late in the half when freshman Luke Telang sent a cross into the box from the right side. Freshman Ryan Dandan found himself unmarked, rose up and headed the ball past junior goalkeeper Billy Schmid for his fourth goal of the year in the 42nd minute.
The Bears lead would not last long as senior Drew Sommer sent a driven ball into the middle of Coast Guard's box in the 45th minute. Senior Ryan Malone came streaking into the Bear's penalty box, dove, and headed the ball into the right corner of the goal for his sixth goal this season.
Malone's goal was the first scored on senior Richie Burns in the last 759 minutes and 12 seconds.
Springfield came out in the second half and took the lead at 53:59 mark when freshman Curtis Bolduc came out of a scramble in front of Coast Guard's goal with the ball and fired a shot into the left side netting for his second goal this year.
The Bears continued to challenge the Pride's defense, pushing to find an equalizer.
Midway through the half sophomore Caelan Harshaw sent a cross into the box from a set piece. Freshman Austin Read headed the ball on goal but Schmid made a sprawling save and was able to snatch up the rebound before it went in the goal.
Coast Guard found the tying goal when a foul at the 84:19 minute put the ball right at the top of Springfield's eighteen yard box. Harshaw stepped up to take the kick, and fired it into the left side of the goal for his third goal this year.
The Pride attempted to steal it late when Bolduc passed the ball across the front of the Bear's goal and found an open Malone making a run to goal. Malone took the ball in stride and attempted to place it in the left corner of the goal just past Burns. The ball however hit the post and went harmlessly out of play.
Coast Guard had the best opportunity in the overtime periods when senior Trey Chamberlain took a shot from the top of Springfield penalty box. The ball looked to be headed into the back of the net but rose just over the bar and out of play.
Burns made six saves in the tie bringing the 18th ranked Bear's record to 13-1-3 overall and 4-1-2 in the NEWMAC. This is only the second time this year that Coast Guard allowed two goals to any opponent.
Schmid made nine saves for the Pride taking their record to 8-5-6 overall and 2-3-2 in the conference. Springfield needs a WPI win over MIT tonight to qualify for the NEWMAC tournament.
The Bears return to action next weekend in the NEWMAC tournament hosted by Wheaton College. Coast Guard is the two seed and will play the three seed WPI on Saturday, November 8th in the NEWMAC semi-final.
