NEW LONDON, Conn. – Coast Guard, powered by two first half goals, cruised to a 3-0 victory over Emerson in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play.
With the win the Bears improve to 4-9 overall and 2-2 in conference competition. The Lions fall to 4-8 on the season and 0-4 in the NEWMAC.
Coast Guard scored their first goal of the game in the twelfth minute when freshman Garrett Magill drove a corner kick to the front post. Freshman Greg Burnham headed the ball towards the back post but was saved off the line by an Emerson defender. However, the clearance fell to junior Kyle Phillips who slotted it home for his first goal of the season.
The Bears continued to press as junior Brad McNell served a ball into the Lions penalty box from just over midfield. Freshman Alex Hall rose up over a Lions defender and headed the ball towards goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Lucas Fischer denied the shot to keep Coast Guard's lead at one.
Sophomore Ryan Dandan fueled the next Bears attack as he found senior Ricky Davies on the left side of the fielding setting him up one on one with the Fischer. Davies took a touch and ripped a shot towards goal but sent it high and wide.
At the 32:36 mark Coast Guard increased their lead to two when McNell beat his defender with some nifty footwork and passed to sophomore Tyler Furry along the Emerson touch line. Furry found junior Patrick Hanrahan with a pass in the center of the box who hit a one-time shot to the far post. The ball hit the post but came right back to Hanrahan who rifled it home for his first of the year.
The Bears wasted little time in the second as 4:04 into the period Hall beat his defender to the end line and cut a hard, low pass back across the Lions goal mouth. Senior Lukas Benedetto held off his defender and blasted a shot into the left corner for his team leading fourth goal of the season.
Coast Guard nearly pushed it to four when Magill took a free kick from the right side of the field in the attacking third. He sent his cross to the back post hooking up with sophomore Austin Read who headed it towards goal. Fischer reacted to the quick header and pushed it over the bar and out of play.
Emerson had their best opportunity of the game midway through the second half when junior Samir Beria had the ball in space at the top of the Bears penalty box. Beria took a touch and hit a shot to the right corner that beat freshman goalkeeper William Bragaw, but went just wide.
Coast Guard had one final attack of the period when Magill passed a through ball to Hanrahan just inside the Lions penalty box. Hanrahan turned and fired a shot to the left corner. Fischer dove to his left and pushed the ball wide and out of play.
Bragaw (3-4) earned his second career shutout making two saves on eight shots, two on goal. Bragaw is fourth in the NEWMAC with a .084 goals against average.
Fischer (1-2) made six saves on 19 shots, 10 on frame.
The Bears return to action on Saturday, September 17th for their final home game of the season when they take on the WPI Engineers. Kickoff is 12:00.
The Lions stay on the road as they head to Eastern Nazarene for a match on October 14th at 4:30pm
