NEW LONDON, Conn. –

In a rematch of last year's NEWMAC semifinal matchup, Salve Regina and Coast Guard engaged in a riveting game with a playoff feel. The game was expected to be a physical, defensive battle and it lived up to that billing with a 0-0 result and tough play by both sides.

Early in the action, both defenses dominated with the first scoring scare 20 minutes in by the Seahawks. After some physicality in the box, Salve had a shot at the goal but dragged it just wide to the right. With just under 11 minutes remaining in the 1st half, the Bears got their first big chance of the day when Ayden Kim(Spanish Fort, AL) sent a shot screaming towards the goal that sailed wide.

The final scare of the half was for Salve with seven minutes remaining but Jack Lopez(Ponte Vedra Beach, FL) came up with a huge block of the Brett Rice(Severna Park, MD) shot that was barreling towards goal.

In the first half, the defenses were relentless. Salve and Coast Guard combined for just one shot on goal and 10 shots total. 

CGA came out firing in the 2nd, dominating the possession battle early. Just five minutes in, Cole Miller(Annapolis, MD) bent a ball towards goal but spun it just wide. Five minutes later, Aki Freeman(San Diego, CA) fired a ball that seemed inevitable to find the net but it scraped just off the post, then on the rebound Michael Porter(Baltimore, MD) sailed a shot wide right to keep the score at 0-0 but give the Bears some momentum.

With about 25 to go, the next big Bears opportunity came on two centering passes from Aki Freeman that was barely poked away by Salve defenders. On the following Salve possession, they found their way into a prime scoring opportunity when a Bears foul in the box gave them a penalty kick. Faced with his biggest test of the game, Goalkeeper Connor Hickey(South Berwick, ME) was ready for the moment, diving to his right to save and catch the Kevin Rivas(West Hartford, CT) laser. 

With just under 18 to go,  Connor Hickey found himself out of goal when a funky bounce off a header sent the ball bouncing towards the net but senior captain Aidan Miles(Tampa, FL) came up clutch and booted the ball out of the danger zone.

As the game clock trickled down, each team saw sporadic chances but the defenses locked in and would not budge. Under five, Coast Guard manned their last strong attack with a rifled shot by Kai Trager(San Clemente, CA) saved right before an Aki Freeman centering pass very nearly found Cole Miller right in front of goal before a Salve defender knocked it away.

With 2:31 remaining, Salve had their last prime shot when a CGA foul gave them a free kick outside the box. The line of Bears on defense were able to get the first touch and send the ball to the air where Connor Hickey snatched it. Salve however would get the ball right back and earn a dangerous corner right at the 89th minute but a block from Naveen Jayaram(Tampa, FL) sent the header attempt away and all but guaranteed the game would finish 0-0. In the final seconds, the Bears had the ball but could not find a miracle before the buzzer.

The tie marks the fourth time in the last six meetings that the Bears and Seahawks ended with that result. With the tie, Salve moves to 4-3-6 on the season, 0-2-3 NEWMAC. They will next host MIT on Saturday October 25th at 2:00 PM. For the Bears, the tie gives them a 7-4-4 record on the season, 3-0-2 NEWMAC. Coast Guard will next host #10 Wheaton College on Saturday at noon.