NEW LONDON, Conn. —
Senior midfielder
Cole Miller (Annapolis, Md.) and freshman midfielder
Ryan Gottschalk (Alpharetta, Ga.) both scored and assisted to lead the United States Coast Guard Academy men's soccer team over Clark University (Mass.), 2-1, in both sides' New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference opener on Saturday at Nitchman Field.
Coast Guard improves to 3-2-1 and starts the NEWMAC slate at 1-0, while Clark moves to 1-3-2 and 0-1. The Cougars will look to bounce back in mid-week non-conference play on Tuesday, the 22nd, when they host Endicott College (2-2-2) at 7:00 PM ET.
Miller had the first opportunity of the game with a winding shot from the top of the box in the 2nd minute, but a great save from the Clark goalie led to a corner. It took only ten minutes for the visitors to get on the board first, with a Clark midfielder finding space and sending one into the lower left part of the Coast Guard goal. Gottschalk later wasted no time in trying to equalize after checking in during the 21st, sending a rocket off of the top woodwork just three minutes later during a big opportunity for the Bears.
Following a long series of back-and-forth possessions, the Bears finally made it one-all in the 38th. Moving in the midfield, Miller sprayed it right to Gottschalk, who played it forward on the right edge of the Cougars box to midfielder
Oliver Perry (East Greenwich, R.I.), who had entered the game just 30 seconds prior. Perry sent a low cross through the box and the Clark defense, where it was volleyed into the net by a lurking Miller for his third goal of the season. Perry and Gottschalk picked up their first career assists.
Clark had the first big chance of the second half when an attacker sent a rocket from distance towards the upper area of the Bears' goal, but senior keeper
Samuel Linkous (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) was there to redirect it with a jump for a Cougars corner. Miller saw another great chance in the 76th when he received a ball right in front of the goal, but his shot had too much under it as it floated over the top woodwork.
The Bears were making the Clark defense work in the late game, constantly maintaining possession deep into the Cougar backfield. Clark's keeper saw his fair share of shots as a result, making three saves between the 78th and 81st minutes. The Bears finally broke through in the 85th, with senior back
Jack Lopez (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) playing it to Miller on the left side of the Cougar box. Miller sent it in, where Gottschalk recorded his first collegiate goal in a near spitting image of the Bears' first score of the day.
Coast Guard held a 14-10 shot advantage, also holding a 6-3 advantage in shots on goal, as they held on for the win without Clark directing another try towards the net over the final five minutes. The conference match-up resulted in a physical game, in which a combined 21 fouls were called and five yellow cards were handed out. The Cougars were called for the majority of the fouls, totaling 11, while Coast Guard drew three of the yellows for the day.
Bears men's soccer will return to action on Tuesday, the 22nd, facing non-conference foes Rhode Island College (2-2-2) at 6:00 PM ET. The game will be streamed live on FloCollege. The Bears were victors in last season's meeting at Nitchman Field by a 3-1 final.
