Men’s Soccer CCC Postseason Run Ends in Semis in PKs at WNE

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Despite its two-goal rally that saw the Rams tie things up with less than a minute remaining in regulation, Suffolk men's soccer saw its quest for the Commonwealth Coast Conference crown come to an end Tuesday afternoon as the fourth-seeded Rams lost the penalty kick shootout to the top-seeded Golden Bears of Western New England at Supernant Field.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | Western New England 2, PK Home (4-3)
RECORDS: Suffolk (10-5-4) | Western New England (6-6-5) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Western New England grabbed an early lead behind a set-piece goal from Mike Riley. A Rams' foul just outside the box resulted in a free kick that Riley buried a high left foot in the near corner to put the Golden Bears on the board at the 16:31 mark. 

The one-goal margin was maintained for the remainder of the first frame.  

The Golden Bears doubled the distance 1:17 out of the locker room. Sam Riley headed home a deep throw in by Malik Serisser to put Suffolk in a 2-0 deficit. 

Pierre Willis cut the distance in half in the 67th minute. The senior connected a penalty kick to put the Rams on the board, 2-1. 

As one minute remaining was announced, Carter Van Buskirk floated a corner kick in front of the Golden Bears net. Neither team gained possession and it found Tommy Handelsman's boot, who quickly shot and scored to level the playing field with 52 seconds left in regulation. 

After two scoreless overtimes, the advancing team would be determined on penalty kicks.  

The teams traded points in the first two rounds to keep things even at one and both the Rams and Golden Bears potted the PK in the third to keep things level. WNE connected in the fourth to take the lead, missed in the fifth and Carter Van Buskirk kept the Rams alive as he potted the PK.  

The Golden Bears took the edge when Roger Leland put his shot away. Senior Matteo Simonini stepped up to keep Suffolk's hopes alive, but the shot hit the outside post to allow WNE to walk away with the 4-3 PK margin and earn the ticket to the CCC Championship. 

KEEPING UP WITH THE KEEPERS

• Xander Balog earned the stalemate behind a seven-save effort. 
• Nathan Harlow, who entered the game with 35 seconds left in the second overtime, defended the net throughout the shootout for Suffolk. 
• Braylon Casinghino had a three-save effort for the Golden Bears.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Willis and Handelsman were responsible for Suffolk's goals. 
• WNE outshot Suffolk, 22-11, including a 9-5 shots on goal advantage. 
• The Golden Bears held a 4-3 corner kicks edge.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk wrapped up its 21st overall conference postseason appearance, third in the CCC. 
• The blue-and-gold competed in the league semifinal showdown for the sixth time. 
• Suffolk moved to 2-3-1 in the conference semis. 
• The Rams are unbeaten, 1-0-1, in the CCC semifinal. 
• All six of the Rams semifinal appearances have come on the road. 
• Suffolk competed as the fourth seed for the second straight season, and sixth time overall. 
• All six of the Rams semifinal runs have come when Suffolk is the fourth seed. 
• Suffolk is 8-5-2 when competing as the fourth seed. 
• The Rams are 2-3-2 in the postseason in the Bill Maddock era. 
• Suffolk has needed extra time to determine a winner in a league postseason game four times including this afternoon. 
• The Rams are 1-1-2 in OT outings in the playoffs. 
• Sufolk went into a PK shootout in the postseason for the second time in program history, second straight season. 
• The Rams fell in the postseason shootout for the first time. 
• Suffolk moved to 2-3-2 all-time in the CCC postseason. 
• On the road, the Rams are 1-3-1 in the CCC tourney. 
• Suffolk moved to 1-8-1 against Western New England since 2002. 
• The Rams snapped a seven-game skid against WNE. 
• The blue-and-gold and Golden Bears played to a draw for the first time in the all-time series. 
• Suffolk moved to 0-3-1 versus UNE under Maddock's guidance. 
• The Rams and Golden Bears tangled in the CCC tournament for the first time. 
• Suffolk and WNE played in the postseason for the second time, first since the 2003 GNAC Quarterfinals. 
• Suffolk moved to 0-1-1 against WNE in a conference postseason. 
• Willis scored his first collegiate goal on a penalty kick. 
• Handelsman had his first goal of the season, a game-tying strike. 
• The Rams end the year at 10-5-4 marking the second straight season Suffolk had double-digit victories, a first for Suffolk in the year-by-year record book, which dates back to 2001.