BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Matt Cicalis (Bridgewater, Mass.) scored just 1:12 into the game and sophomore Joe Schallmo (Norwood, Mass.) made six saves as the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's soccer team ran its unbeaten streak to 10 games (6-0-4) with a 1-0 win over Nichols in a Commonwealth Coast Conference contest played at Sweeney Field.
With the win the Leopards improve to 8-2-4 overall and 4-0-1 in CCC play while the Bison see their four-game win and five-game unbeaten streak come to an end, falling to 7-5-1 (3-2-0).
The game's lone goal came on the first shot attempt by either squad. Freshman Matt White (Northbridge, Mass.) carried the ball to near the end line to the left of the net where he served a cross to Cicalis, who was trailing on the play. Cicalis headed home his fourth goal of the season as he beat freshman Juan Carlos De La Cruz (Stamford, Conn.).
In the ninth minute, Nichols nearly tied the game when junior Paul Sickinger's (Tyngsboro, Mass.) shot in the ninth minute hit the crossbar. The Bison had a golden opportunity in the 25th minute when a Wentworth player was whistled for a foul just outside the box. Off the direct kick, sophomore Gregory Giglio (Deer Park, N.Y.) put a shot on net, however Schallmo turned the bid aside.
Through 45 minutes of play, shots were even at eight apiece.
In the 49th minute, sophomore James Morrison (New South Wales, Australia) had a chance off a set piece, however De La Cruz made a save in front to keep it a 1-0 contest.
Off a senior David Melanson (Simsbury, Conn.) corner kick in the 80th minute, senior Aaron Sinclair (Saco, Maine) nearly tied it up, however Schallmo deflected the bid out of bounds and Nichols was unable to generate a chance off the ensuing corner.
Sickinger put a shot on net in the 88th minute, but Schallmo came up with the save. With 12 seconds left Nichols had a corner kick, however the play was cleared out sealing the Leopard win.
De La Cruz made eight of his 11 saves in the second half. Wentworth had a 20-15 shot advantage and Nichols had the edge in corner kicks, 7-6.
Wentworth is at Gordon on Saturday while Nichols is also idle until Saturday when the Bison travel to the University of New England.
