EAST BOSTON – In a game where all the scoring spanned 13 minutes in the second half, Suffolk men's soccer came out on the wrong side of a 3-2 decision to Commonwealth Coast Conference counterpart Western New England Tuesday night at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | Western New England 3
RECORDS: Suffolk (8-5-3, 3-2-2 CCC) | Western New England (8-5-3, 5-2-0 CCC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Out of a lack luster first frame, action picked up in the second as Western New England potted a pair of goals over three minutes. Jayden Montagna set-up Jonny Clough's strike that started the scoring before the Golden Bears xxxx put away the rock himself to double the margin to 2-0.
WNE did not stop the scoring there are Mike Milazzo joined the goal club in the 68th minute to push the Rams' deficit to three.
Suffolk started making up ground just three seconds after Milazzo found the back of the net when Tommy Handelsman turned a Damon Smargon feed into a goal.
Just about five minutes later, Handelsman's throw in played a part in Matthew Belluardo's header that found the back of the net and pulled the blue-and-gold within one, 3-2.
As time ticked down, Suffolk saw more chances, but none were on the mark to complete the comeback.
NETMINDER NOTES
- Xander Balog had seven saves in the setback.
- Leland picked up 10 stops.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Handelsman had one goal and one assist.
- Belluardo registered one goal.
- Smargon notched one helper.
- Suffolk outshot WNE, 27-13.
- The Rams put more shots on target, 12-10.
- The blue-and-gold took six corners compared to the Golden Bears three.
NOTEWORTHY
- Tonight's decision marks the fifth contest in the series to be decided by one goal. The Rams are 1-4 in one-goal games with the Golden Bears.
- Belluardo stretched his point streak to three games. He has scored one goal in the last three outings.
- Handelsman matched a career-high three points. He recorded three points for the second time in his career, both games of which have come this season, the last time he had three points was in a 4-0 shutout of the University of New England Oct. 8, 2021.
POST-GAME PIC
WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk heads to Gordon Saturday, Oct. 22 for a 3:30 p.m. CCC clash.