Gordon Captures the 2015 CCC Men's Soccer Championship Title
INTERACTIVE TOURNAMENT BRACKET
BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott men's soccer team suffered a 2-0 loss to the visiting Gordon College Fighting Scots Saturday afternoon at Hempstead Stadium in the 2015 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship.
With the loss, Endicott fell to 15-2-3 overall, while cross-town rival Gordon improved to 15-4 and advanced to the First Round of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament beginning next week.
Freshman forward/midfielder Tyler Modzeleski (Cazenovia, N.Y.) provided all the scoring today, as he found the back of the net with a quick strike just 3:28 into the contest on a feed from freshman forward/midfielder Danny Nkhalamba (Concord, N.H.) and again in the 36th minute with a high-arcing, long range shot into the back right on a pass from junior midfielder Caleb Cole (Coatesville, Pa.).
The Gulls outshot Gordon, 12-9, but junior goalkeeper Josh Spoonhour (Greencastle, Pa.) came up big when it mattered most, as he made a diving stop on the low post on a booming shot by Endicott senior forward Diego Slobotzky (Mexico City, Mexico) in the 68th minute with the match on the line.
The Fighting Scots led 2-0 at the end of the first half, and that proved to be the difference today as Gordon claimed its first CCC Championship since winning it all in 2003.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Gordon holds a 20-2-2 advantage in the all-time series versus Endicott.
- Today was the fifth meeting in the postseason between the two teams, as Gordon is 5-0 all-time, winning all four previous contests by a one-goal margin until today.
- Endicott was shutout for just the second time all season. (The other time was a 0-0 2 OT draw vs. Calvin in the season opener.)
- The Gulls had outscored opponents 14-4 in the first half this season, and trailed today at the half for just the third time all season.
- Junior goalkeeper Nick Weinstein (Trumbull, Conn.) registered six saves in the match as he suffered just his second loss of the season (15-2-2).
- It was a very physical match, as the teams combined for 27 fouls.
FOR THE FOES
- Modzeleski scored his sixth and seven goals of the season, the second time he has scored twice in a single match in his career (10/10/15 against Eastern Nazarene).
- Nkhalamba registered his third assist of the season.
- Cole recorded his team-leading sixth assist of the season.
- Spoonhour made four stops as he earned his 15th win of the season (15-4).
NOTES
- The Gulls were competing in the CCC Championship for the first time in program history.
- The Gulls are lost their first game since a 3-1 setback to Tufts University at home on September 8.
- Gordon won their first title since 2003, breaking an 0-3 skid with losses in the 2014, 2010 and 2005 championships to Nichols (2-1, 2 OT), Nichols (3-1 penalty kick shootout), and Roger Williams (1-0).
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (15-2-3) awaits word on a potential NCAA at-large berth or ECAC Tournament bid to be announced early next week.
Gordon (15-4) earned the conference's automatic bid into the 2015 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.