DUDLEY, Mass. (Oct. 20) – The Nichols College men’s soccer team defeated Eastern Nazarene, 3-1, Tuesday afternoon in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference game at Vendetti Field. The Bison, who received the go-ahead goal just before halftime from sophomore Tim Howard (Paxton, Mass.), move to 6-5 in TCCC games and 10-6 overall, while the Lions are still searching for their first win on the year at 0-15-1 overall and 0-10-1 in TCCC action.
Nichols took the lead just over 16 minutes into the game. Junior back Ryan Wytrych (Feeding Hills, Mass.) sent a long volley up for classmate Michael Schell (No. Windsor, Conn.) to go with. Schell connected with it as he ran ahead into the box before firing into the net at the far post.
Eastern Nazarene tied it up late in the half, however, as junior Freddy Perez scored his first goal of the season in the 40th minute. Charles Dybaud set up the play as the Lions pressed into Bison territory with a pass from midfield to Jeremy Stanford ahead in the right corner. Stanford quickly crossed the ball to Perez, who had streaked up the left and was positioned at the back post to knock the ball in for the equalizer at 39:54.
Howard gave the Bison the lead for good with 29 seconds left in the half as he converted a pass from Capitanio for his fifth goal of the season. Capitanio then gave Nichols an insurance goal with his team-leading seventh goal of the season on a blistering direct kick in the 65th minute.
Nichols goalkeeper Brendan Hamilton (No. Attleboro, Mass.) made two saves in his 10th win of the year, while Lions’ starting keeper Andrew Trice made six saves in the first 78 minutes before giving way to Chris Cherry.
Nichols held a commanding 25-5 advantage in shots, and was afforded four corner kicks to the Lions’ none. The two teams combined for 42 fouls.
Nichols wraps up its home schedule on Saturday with a 3 p.m. TCCC game against University of New England on Vendetti Field. Eastern Nazarene travels to Salve Regina Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. TCCC matchup.
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