NEW LONDON, Conn.  -  The Coast Guard Academy men's soccer team went into their Tuesday night clash vs. Western New England University looking to avenge their loss to Wheaton (Mass.) over the weekend, but the Golden Bears would eventually come out on top, 1-0 once the final whistle sounded. The difference-maker proved to be a rebound score for the visitors off of a penalty kick save by John Putnam (Halfmoon, N.Y.), who made three such saves during the match.

The Bears lost their second-straight game as they move to 7-2-1, while the Golden Bears improved to 3-6-3. WNEU's next match is at conference rivals University of New England. The Nor'easters are 4-4-2 after a win over Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Tuesday night.

It was Coast Guard and WNEU's first meeting since the 2012 ECAC Championship, which Coast Guard won, 1-0. The stakes were lower this time, but the results were also different. Both teams were scoreless through the first 30 minutes of play, but the Golden Bears found the first major oppurtunity of the game after being given a penalty kick in the 32nd minute. Putnam made a diving save on the initial attempt towards the left side of the goal, but WNEU's penalty taker got to the ball quickly for the follow-up score.

The visitors remained held their one-goal lead going into the halftime break. Coast Guard was playing physical defense, being called for more fouls (6) than their counterparts (3), one of which was the lone yellow card of the game in the 36th minute.

The Golden Bears would be given another penalty kick chance in the 73rd minute. The chance was deterred by Putnam, rolling out of bounds to set up a WNEU corner kick; the visitors couldn't capitalize on it after the kick wa quickly cleared by the Coast Guard defense. WNEU would be given another penalty kick chance later on in the 79th minute, but it was again saved by Putnam and cleared to keep the Bears in the game late. Coast Guard was unable to equalize by the final whistle.

Putnam finished with six saves in total over the course of the game. Andres Villasana (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) had two shots on goal, the first of which was the first of the match in the third minute and the second ringing off the left woodwork in the 48th minute; Jude Sargent (West Hartford, Conn.) also had two shots on goal, both of which were headers saved by the opposing goalkeeper.

Coast Guard men's soccer is back in action on Saturday afternoon, hosting Springfield College in a NEWMAC match-up set for a noon kick-off. The Pride are 3-2-1 this season and will have faced the University of Mount Saint Vincent on Wednesday night before heading to New London. The two teams played to a 0-0 draw in last year's contest.