DANBURY, Conn. —
Nickolas Santana (New Haven, Conn.) adds two tallies, including the eventual game-winning goal in the Western Connecticut State University men's soccer team's 3-1 rout over the visiting United States Merchant Marine Academy Mariners at the Westside Athletic Complex on Tuesday. The Wolves snapped the Mariners' nine-game unbeaten streak and improved to 11-3-3 overall, while USMMA dropped to 5-3-7. Santana netted the first two goals for the hosts in the opening half.
Less than four minutes into the first half, Santana outran a trail of Mariners to put the Wolves up 1-0.
Chance Campbell (Bartow, Fla.) intercepted a clearing pass before sending it to Santana, who darted down the scoring zone and drew the goalkeeper too far out for a shot over the goalie's head and into the twine at 3:57. Seven minutes later, Santana scored again, this time off the passes by
Bamfa Fofana (New York, N.Y.) and
Rodrigo Lancho (Hartford, Conn.). Fofana nabbed a failed cross from the defense, flicked it up to Lancho, who dribbled it once on his toes before launching it to a wide-open Santana, who headed it past the goalkeeper.
Andrew Jung tallied the lone goal for the Mariners in the 58th minute, but
Ernesto Barrosa (Madison, Conn.) padded the lead with an insurance goal thanks to a well-placed pass by Lancho in the 60th minute.
Makai Smith (Bridgeport, Conn.) registered five saves on the day, while James Castoro denied six Wolves' shots in goal for Merchant Marine. Santana has 10 game-winning goals in his career and is one away from breaking the program record of 11 GWGs.
WestConn remains home with an Little East Conference matchup against Rhode Island College on October 17 at 1 p.m.
