Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn. – Two own goals midway through the first half gave the Camels a 2-0 victory over the Bears in the 38th annual Whale Cup.
With the win Connecticut College improves to 2-1 while Coast Guard falls to 1-5 on the season.
The Bears looked like they were going to be the first team on the board early in the first half when senior Ricky Davies slotted a ball through the Camels defense to sophomore Ryan Dandan. Dandan was in on goal, and his shot beat junior Austin DaCunha but went wide of the goal.
Coast Guard continued to pressure in the offensive end when Dandan found senior Lukas Benedetto on the left wing. Benedetto beat his defender and sent a cross into the box that was headed to Dandan but right before it reached him was cleared away by the Connecticut College defense.
Both of the Camel's goals came in a two minute window as the first was off a Connecticut College corner kick. The ball was sent into the box and after a short scrum in the box, the ball came off a Coast Guard defender sending it towards the Bears goal. Freshman William Bragaw attempted to make the save but the awkward spin on the ball caused it to slip under Bragaw and into the back of the net.
Just 1:34 later senior Ajami Gikandi received the ball on the left side of the Bears penalty box. Gikandi went to take a hard shot that deflected off of two Coast Guard defenders and into the back of the net for the second own goal of the game giving the Camel's a 2-0 lead.
The second half continued to be a defensive battle for the Bears who held strong while being pressured by the Connecticut College offense. Bragaw made a number of key saves while sophomore Austin Read, early in the half managed to track back and slide into make a sliding block of a Camel's shot headed for goal.
Coast Guard did not leave the pitch quietly as they attempted to mount a comeback putting together a number of quality chances. The best came midway through the half when Read found himself free on the left side of the attacking third of the field. He carried the ball in the Connecticut College 18 yard box where he sent a low, hard pass across the front of the goal to Dandan. Just as Dandan was about to connect for a shot it was cleared out of danger by the Camel's defense.
"I thought they were pretty resilient in the second half," commented head coach Chris Parsons on the teams play tonight.
Parsons went on to say,"we are not a 1-5 team but that is our record right now, so that is who we are. I think we are learning how to compete, and hopefully by learning how to compete we learn how to win."
Bragaw in his second career start made allowed two goals while making three saves on 12 shots, five on goal. Bragaw's season record is now 0-2.
DaCuhna secured his first shutout of the season as he was not forced to make any saves tonight. DaCuhna improves to 1-1 on the year.
Coast Guard is back in action at home this Saturday as they open there NEWMAC schedule with defending conference champion, Babson. Kickoff is at noon.
