BOSTON, Mass – Senior Alec Watkinson's (Merrimack, N.H.) golden goal at 104:23 lifted the second-seeded Wentworth Institute of Technology men's soccer team to a 1-0, double overtime victory over third-seeded Gordon in the semifinal round of the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament.
With the win the Leopards (13-3-4) advance to the CCC title game for the first time since 2009 and fifth time in program history. Wentworth will host fourth-seeded Western New England on Saturday at 3:00 for the conference championship and the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament. The Fighting Scots end their season at 12-5-1.
Gordon tested the Leopards early, putting a shot on net in the second minute and having a shot attempt go wide off a corner kick in the third minute. The Fighting Scots nearly took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute when senior Caleb Cole (Coatesville, Pa.) took a free kick from 30 yards out which rattled the crossbar.
In the 29th minute, Watkinson had a shot attempt saved by senior Josh Spoonhour (Greencastle, Pa.), which was one of two shots the Leopards put on target in the first half. Gordon had a 7-4 shot advantage at the break.
Wentworth's best chance in the second half came in the 76th minute when sophomore James Morrison (New South Wales, Australia) took a shot from just outside the box, which Spoonhour got a hand on and deflected out of bounds. As the clock wound down at the end of regulation, both teams had chances to prevent the game from going extra time, however sophomore Joe Schallmo (Norwood, Mass.) and Spoonhour each made saves. The Leopards had a 9-3 shot advantage in the second half.
The first overtime saw Wentworth with a 4-3 shot edge. Junior Michael Zendan (Charlotte, N.C.) had three of those shots, including two on net.
Wentworth took all three shots in the second overtime and won it on a give-and-go with Watkinson and Morrison. Watkinson carried the ball into the offensive end and fed Morrison. Morrison's one-touch pass split the defense and found Watkinson in front, who beat Spoonhour to the right.
Schallmo made four saves while Spoonhour had 13. The Leopards outshot the Fighting Scots, 20-13. Gordon had a 6-4 advantage on corner kicks.
Wentworth and Western New England will meet in the finals for the third time with the Golden Bears winning in 2007 and 2009. Of the four previous finals appearances for the Black & Gold, three have been on the road. In 1996 Wentworth won its lone league title to date on Sweeney Field.
