NEW LONDON, Conn. —
The United States Coast Guard Academy men's soccer team fell to down-street foes Connecticut College, 0-6, on Tuesday night at Nitchman Field in the annual derby match between the two teams. The Camels entered the match ranked 15th in the weekly United Soccer Coaches poll.
Coast Guard falls to 6-4-2 on the season, while Conn College improves to 7-2-2. The Camels will continue their slate this Saturday, the 17th, at non-conference foes University of New England.
After 33 minutes of scoreless action, Conn took the lead off of a Bears own goal. They'd add another just a couple of minutes later as a Camels back sent it upfield to an unmarked attacker, who stayed onsides to take it in the box and send it into the back of the net. The Camels made it 3-0 at the first half buzzer when a ball played into the box from midfield was punched out, only for a Camels attacker to follow up with a rocket under the crossbar with one second remaining in the half.
The visitors took a 4-0 lead in the 52nd minute after winning a free kick, which was taken on the right side of the box and sent directly into the back of the net. The Camels would add another in the 72nd after relaying a pair of passes into the box to set up their fifth, and they made it 6-0 in the 74th after converting a penalty kick opportunity.
Conn held a 15-10 advantage in shots taken and 8-2 in shots on goal. Senior midfielders
Michael Porter (Baltimore, Md.) and
Andres Villasana (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) had two tries each, with Porter joining classmate
Cole Miller (Annapolis, Md.) in the on-target column. The Camels also held an 8-3 advantage on the corners, while Coast Guard was called for 12 fouls against their guests' 11. Four yellow cards were dealt out in the game, with three going against the Camels.
Bears men's soccer will also take the field again this Saturday, hitting the road for a bounce-back effort at Bridgewater State University (4-5-3). Bridgewater will head into the Battle of the Bears without a win in their past four appearances, losing in their last three. Bridgewater will celebrate Senior Day prior to the match, just as Coast Guard did last season when the two teams met at Nitchman Field last season before the visiting side spoiled the festivities with a 1-0 win.
