Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn. – In a rematch of last season's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) semifinal, Coast Guard and WPI played to a scoreless draw.
With the tie the Bear's record is now 4-9-1 overall and 2-2-1 in NEWMAC play. The Engineer's record is now 9-4-2 overall and 3-1-1 in conference games.
WPI had the first opportunity of the game as a cross was served into Coast Guard's box early on in the first half. The ball bounced and junior Matt Farrell managed to get a head to the ball. Farrell's header beat freshman goalkeeper William Bragaw, but hit off the post and was cleared out of play by the Bear's defense.
Junior Brad McNell looked to break through the Engineers back line just under ten minutes into the match when he beat his defender and dribbled towards the top of WPI's penalty box. McNell took a shot before the rest of the defense could close, but his strike was collected by sophomore goalkeeper Connor Hoeckele.
Later in the half Coast Guard was on the counter as sophomore Ryan Dandan found fellow sophomore Luke Telang with a pass in the attacking third of the field. Telang took a touch towards the top of the Engineers 18 yard box and cracked a shot towards the right upper corner. Hoeckele, however, made an acrobatic save to knock the ball out of play and keep the game scoreless.
On a free kick from the top of the Bear's penalty box, WPI sent a lofting ball into the box that was flicked on by sophomore Brendan Nemes. Bragaw dove to his left making the save and ending the Engineer's attack.
At the start of the second half Coast Guard had their best opportunity early on as senior Lukas Benedetto sent a cross from the left side of the field to the far post. Freshman Garrett Magill met the cross and sent it across the front of the goal with one touch. Dandan fired a shot on goal but Hoeckele was in the right spot and made the save.
The majority of the second half was a defensive battle as neither team had another notable scoring opportunity. The Bear's could not take advantage of a 6-2 second half advantage in corner kicks.
Regulation ended all knotted up at zero, but Coast Guard nearly ended the game in the first thirty seconds of overtime as Dandan played a ball back to Magill just outside the circle at the top of the penalty box. Magill hit a dipping shot towards goal but Hoeckele once again rose up to make the save.
Midway through the first overtime the Engineers played a ball over the top that forced Bragaw to come off his line. Bragaw attempted to punch the ball away but knocked it to sophomore Anthony Vigliotta on the left side of the Bear's 18 yard box. Vigliotta took a touch and fired a shot towards goal but sent it high over the bar.
Dandan made one final attempt for Coast Guard in the second overtime as he dribbled down the center of the pitch into the attacking third of the field. Dandan teamed up with freshman Alex Hall for a quick one two combination getting Dandan free in the WPI penalty box. Dandan attempted a shot but pushed it wide and out of play.
Bragaw (3-4-1) made four saves on 18 shots, four shots on goals. Bragaw is third in the NEWMAC with a .72 goals against average.
Hoeckele (6-3-1) made six saves on 18 shots, six on goal. Hoeckele is second in the conference with a .824 save percentage.
Coast Guard will spend the rest of the season on the road as their next game is on Tuesday, October 20th against Mass. Maritime in nonconference action. Kickoff is 7:00.
