FARMINGTON, Maine (9/4/2024) - The Nichols College men's soccer team earned their first victory of the 2024 season with a 1-0 win over the University of Maine Farmington Beavers on Wednesday afternoon.
The win is the first of the young season for the Bison, who now sit at 1-1 on the year. The Beavers drop to 0-1 on the year. The match marked the second meeting in as many years between the two programs, the Bison remain undefeated 2-0 in their series with the Beavers.
A red card ejection in the 7th minute of action forced the Bison down to 10 players, challenging the visitors. Despite being shorthanded, the Bison managed to maintain pressure and dominated offensively for much of the game.
The Bison's best chance in the first half came in the 12th minute when freshman
Josiah Phillips snuck behind the Beavers' back line, and went toe-to-toe with the Beavers started Jackson Leach. However, two back-to-back highlight reel saves kept the game scoreless heading into the break.
In second-half action, Nichols play dominance continued, as they pushed sustained pressure on the home side. It was a set piece that broke the deadlock in the 70th minute. Freshman
Lukas Salvador took a corner from the right side, delivering a cross to the top of the penalty area. Senior
William Pugliese-Savage won the header and directed the ball to sophomore
Alexandro Montreuil, who was unmarked on the goal line and scored the eventual game-winning goal. The goal was Montreuil's first of his college career.
In between the pipes for the Bison, junior
Derek Axon saw his first minutes in net this season as he took over in the 7th minute for starter
Franco Barreto Santana after the red card ejection. Axon recorded five saves to earn the shutout, helping the Bison secure their first win of the season.
Men's soccer continues their season-opening road stretch as they head to Western Connecticut State University on Saturday, September 7th for a date with the Wolves. That match is set for a 1:00 p.m. kick-off at the Westside Athletic Complex in Danbury.
