Box Score DUDLEY, Mass. – Freshmen
Rielee Mohsin (Stuart, Fla.) and
Cooper Milano (Caldwell, N.J.) each scored goals to propel the No. 1 Nichols College men's soccer team to a 2-0 win over No. 8 University of New England in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Quarterfinal action Saturday afternoon at Vendetti Field.
The Bison advance to the CCC Semifinal round for the fifth-consecutive season, where they will take on No. 4 Endicott Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. The Gulls played to a scoreless tie with No. 5 Salve Regina and advanced on penalty kicks, 6-5.
"UNE has come a long way with since its coaching staff changed over," said Nichols head coach and CCC Coach of the Year
Chris Traina. "Peter is doing good things and has his players working very hard."
Mohsin – who was named the CCC Rookie of the Year on Friday – put the Bison on top in the 31st minute. Sophomore
David Melanson (Simsbury, Conn.) launched a long feed to Mohsin from 20 yards away in which Mohsin chested it down and blasted a shot over senior Aidan McParland (Brockville, Ontario) for the goal.
Nichols (12-2-4) outshot UNE11-0 in the first half, and would continue that trend into the second half where the Bison outshot the Nor'easters 8-0.
In the 83rd minute, junior and CCC Honorable Mention
Tiago Prazeres (West Hartford, Conn.) sent in a corner kick that got through everyone in the box and landed on the foot of Milano, who sealed the win by putting it into the back of the net.
The Bison held the Nor'easters without a shot in the game while they had 19 of their own. Prazeres led NC with five shots while Mohsin added four.
Senior and CCC Second Team selection
Jeremy Nash (West Springfield, Mass.) earning his seventh shutout of the season to move to 7-1-3 on the season without making a save. McParland – the CCC Defensive Player of the Year – played outstanding in defeat as he stopped nine Bison shots. He ends his season at 9-7-2.
"For us, I think today was fundamentally the strongest game so far this season," said Traina. "From back to front, each player took hold of their responsibilities and performed very well."
In the other CCC Semifinal, No. 3 Roger Williams will take on the winner of No. 7 Western New England and No. 2 Gordon, which play tonight at 7:00 p.m. The Hawks defeated No. 6 Curry, 3-1, in the first Quarterfinal matchup of the day.
"The next task is Endicott - a physical, talented side that has also surged near the end of their season," said Traina. "We look forward to hosting them on Wednesday."
UNE ends its season 9-7-2.
