DANBURY, Conn. - Junior midfielder/forward
Nickolas Santana (New Haven, Conn.) led the Western Connecticut State University men's soccer squad with one goal and an assist including his penalty kick in the 65th minute, knotting the match up, 2-2, with Rhode Island College on Saturday afternoon at the Westside Athletic Complex. It marked his 10th goal of the season.
Neither team scored in a first half in which the Anchormen outshot the Wolves, 9-3. Freshman goalkeeper Aime Ruggles (Bronx, N.Y.) made five saves in the half for the hosts.
Rhode Island College pierced the scoring column when Julian Orellana found the net in the 49th minute. WestConn answered just over two minutes later. Santana set up sophomore midfielder Matthews Rocha (Danbury, Conn.) for his third goal of the season, and it was 1-1 at 51:46. Moise Augustin put the Anchormen back in front in the 57th minute on a feed from Donovan Calle.
Santana drew WestConn level at 64:53 with a penalty kick after being hauled down inside the box. Sophomore midfielder/forward Juan Gomez Herrera (Brentwood, N.Y.) had two shots go high in the stretch, just missing the twine. Neither team could tally the game-winner in the final 25 minutes. Augustin led RIC with five shots, four on goal, including late saves from Ruggles at 75:53 and 88:45. Senior back Enzo LaGrassa-Gillet (Miami Beach, Fla.) header was smothered at 78:42, and sophomore midfielder/forward Jokin Martinez (Jamaica, N.Y.) had a shot saved at 85:54.
Ruggles finished with 10 saves, five in each half, as Rhode Island College outshot WestConn, 18-13, and put 12 shots on goal. The Wolves finished with five on goal. Rhode Island College had four corner kicks to WestConn's two.
The match was physical, with four yellow cards charged to the hosts and two for the visitors.
The draw leaves WestConn at 11-3-4 overall and 6-0-1 in Little East Conference play, still unbeaten in the league. Rhode Island College moved to 5-4-5 and 3-1-2. The Wolves don't get much rest. They return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. against visiting non-conference opponent Brooklyn College.
