Nashua - The sophomore tandem of Spencer Bernard (Windsor Locks, Conn.) and Alex Jackson (Kent, Ohio) connected twice in the span of 13 minutes in the second half guiding the Daniel Webster men's soccer team past previously unbeaten Suffolk University, 2-1 Wednesday at Eagle Field.
Jackson set up Bernard in the 50th minute and Bernard returned the favor in the 63rd as the Eagles (2-2) won their second straight and handed the Rams (3-1-2) their first loss of the season.
Joe Keene (Bristol, N.H.) was solid in net for the Eagles, finishing with seven stops, while Ram keeper Jack DeJesus (Swampscott, Mass.) made four saves.
Suffolk controlled the tempo throughout the first half, getting off eight shots to the Eagles five including three quality scoring chances and jumped ahead at the 12:26 mark as Luis Flores (Madrid, Spain) found a streaking Danny Lloyd (Honduras) heading towards the far left post. Lloyd buried his sixth of the year with a 15-yarder past a diving Keene for a 1-0 lead.
The Eagles changed the momentum quickly in the second when Jackson threaded an 18-yard cross pass to the center of the box. Bernard beat the defense up high and headed home an eight yarder to the top right corner just 4:54 into the second frame to tie it.
The goal revitalized the Eagles, who pressed over the next 30 minutes and choked up the Ram forwards, limiting the Rams to six second half shots including four from long distance.
In the 63rd, Bernard and Jackson connected for a give and go with Jackson burying a 10-yarder past DeJesus for the 2-1 lead with 26:32 remaining.
The Rams mounted one last push and successfully contained the ball in the Eagles defensive zone over the last 10 minutes. Suffolk had two quality scoring chances including Nick Celia's 20-yarder that hooked just wide left and a Luis Flores shot that also hooked just left with 2:10 to go.
The Eagles return to action Saturday as they open their NECC schedule visiting Becker College for a 12:00 p.m. start. Suffolk hosts St. Joseph's, Me. Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in a GNAC contest.
(Story Courtesy of Daniel Webster Sports Information)