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Cole Johnson Action vs KSC
Jesse Kamalandua, Ath Comm Student Employee
Cole Johnson
1
Southern Me. SOUTHERN (4-10-5, 2-4-2)
2
Winner WestConn WESTCONN (13-4-3, 5-1-2)
Southern Me. SOUTHERN
(4-10-5, 2-4-2)
1
Final
2
WestConn WESTCONN
(13-4-3, 5-1-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Southern Me. SOUTHERN 0 1 1
WestConn WESTCONN 1 1 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Christina Cracolici, Director of Athletic Communications

2023 Little East Conference Quarterfinal: No. 6 Southern Maine Falls to No. 3 WestConn 2-1

Cole Johnson Scores For Huskies

DANBURY, Conn.   -  Maximus Vigo scored in the 69th minute securing the eventual game-winning goal as the No. 3 Western Connecticut State University Wolves held off the no. 6 University of Southern Maine Huskies 2-1 in the first quarterfinal game of the 2023 Litlte East Conference Men's Soccer Championship Tournament. 
 
WestConn advances out of the quarterfinal round and will face No. 2 Keene State College on Thursday, November 2 (6:30 pm) in one of two semifinal games.  The result concludes the Huskies' 2023 season.  Under first-year head coach Jim Hopkins '00, Southern Maine earned its first spot in the LEC tournament since the 2018. 
 
The Records:
No. 6 Southern Maine (4-10-5)
No. 3 Western Connecticut (13-4-2)
 
Today's game marked the 32nd meeting between the University of Southern Maine Huskies and the Western Connecticut State University Wolves.  WestConn leads the overall series 22-8-1, and had won the last 10 games consecutively. During the 2023 regular season, the Huskies drew even with WestConn 1-1 on October 21, snapping the Wolves' streak.
 
How It Happened:
  • WestConn took a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute.  The Wolves were awarded a penalty kick and Daniel Russo converted.  WestConn held the lead 1-0 lead through the first half, outshooting the Huskies 3-2 in the first half.
  • The Wolves doubled their advantage in the 69th minute when Maximus Vigo hit a low driven shot to the right corner off assists from George Cortes and Marc Kyriakidis.  Cortes accelerated to the end line and sent a ball back into the box for Vigo and the score.
  • Southern Maine snapped the shut out in the 75th minute after a strong efforts in the midfield from seniors Yahya Altaie (Westbrook, Maine) and Will Smith (Northborough, Mass.).  After Altaie's work in the middle, he passed it off to Smith on the right.  Smith sent a well-weighted ball to sophomore Cole Johnson (Orange, Mass.) who turned and hit a low shot to the far post for the score. 
 
The Goalkeepers:
SM, Simon Gabaree (4-8-4), 90:00, 2 GA, 3 saves
WC, Zachary Benson (9-3-2), 90:00, 1 GA, 1 save
 
Inside The Stats:
  • Southern Maine's appearance in the 2023 Little East Conference playoffs is the first since 2018, and just the fourth overall appearance in program history.
  • The Huskies 22 goals this season are the most by the program since the 2008 (12-9-1, 6-0-1 Little East) season . The 2008 team also scored 40 goals.
 
-cac-
 
 
 
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