Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. -- The University of New England Nor'easters scored three times in each half on their way to a 6-2 victory over Clark University in a non-conference men's soccer match played under the lights Wednesday evening (Oct. 1) at Granger Soccer Turf.

In picking up their second consecutive win, the Nor'easters improve to 5-3-1, while the Cougars fall to 4-7-0. The last time the Nor'easters had five wins nine games into the season was the 2009 campaign when they started 7-2. Clark was fresh off a win over Coast Guard Academy, which was undefeated and nationally-ranked when the two teams met last Saturday (Sept. 27).

UNE got off to a quick start, scoring three times in the opening 24 minutes to take control. Finn Ducker got the Nor'easters on the board in the 15th minute, flicking a header off a service from Ben Johnson for his first goal of the season. Darius Ntacyo and Sean Goodrich tallied markers from Matthew Christie and Johnson, respectively, less than three minutes apart to give Blue Blue a 3-0 cushion and complete the scoring for the first frame.

Clark regrouped at intermission and came out strong, getting back-to-back goals from Oscar Zapata and Alberto Polo-Herrera to close within one (3-2) 64:13 into the contest.

Dexter Doucet would stem the tide for the Nor'easters, however, converting a Goodrich assist less than two minutes later to put the visitors on top, 4-2. Tyler Garnick (75th minute from Ducker) and Scott Mitchell (79th minute from Jeremy Hill) tacked on insurance goals late to account for UNE's second-highest scoring output since a 6-1 win over Mount Ida College on Sept. 14, 2010. The Nor'easters scored 11 times in a rout of Fisher College last season.

Aidan McParland played a scoreless first half in goal to earn the win for UNE. He registered four saves before giving way to Nate Diffin, who also had four stops in 45 minutes of playing time. 

Connor Maguire and Alistair Richardson combined for three saves for the Cougars, who led 23-18 in shots.

The Nor'easters will be looking to make it three straight wins Saturday when they travel to Springfield, Mass. for a Commonwealth Coast Conference match with Western New England University. Kick-off is slated for noon.


(Revised 10/2/14 6:00 PM)