Box Score

DUDLEY, Mass. – First-year Donny Whittle (Ellington, Conn.) scored his team-leading eighth goal of the year to help push Nichols past visiting Western New England, 2-1, in a key Commonwealth Coast Conference men's soccer match on Saturday afternoon. The Bison improve to 7-5-0 overall and 3-2-0 in league play while the Golden Bears slip to 5-6-2 on the season and 2-2-1 in the CCC.
 
Both sides looked to grab an early lead. Western New England junior Mike Wysocki (Somers, Conn.) attempted to put the visitors ahead with just 3:48 elapsed in the contest only to have the shot go wide. In the 15th minute Whittle sent a free kick to the left of the wall and fired it at the net where senior Nick Starr (Somers, Conn.) made the stop. Nichols senior Andrew Conklin (Wading River, N.Y.) tested Starr with a one-on-one chance in the 41st minute as the visiting goalkeeper collected the shot. The opening half ended without a goal while Nichols had a slim 7-4 edge in shots and took the only corner kick of the frame.
 
Nichols crossed the goal line in the 58th minute as junior Fred Willard (Webster, Mass.) dribbled the ball through the visitor's defense and found the back of the net. Western New England freshman Colin Macdonald (West Newbury, Mass.) headed in the equalizer off a cross from junior Kevin Parma (Peconic, N.Y.) at 73:10. The match appeared to be headed into overtime before Whittle found the back of the net for his fourth game-winner of the year in the 86th minute. Willard's initial shot was misplayed to set the stage for the Bison marker. Four minutes earlier, Wysocki had a great chance with a header but the ball sailed left of the goal.
 
First-year Alex Geas (Somers, Conn.) made one stop in the victory while Starr collected seven saves on the afternoon.
 
The Bison return to the pitch on Monday when Plymouth State is in town for a 3:00 p.m. match at Michael J. Vendetti Field. Western New England hosts Rhode Island College on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.