Men’s Soccer to Host Roger Williams in CNE Championship Saturday

SUFFOLK vs. ROGER WILLIAMS
Date Time Venue Video Stats Program Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Saturday, Nov. 9 12:00 PM James A. Sartori Stadium East Boston Memorial Park East Boston, Mass. CNE Network GoSuffolkRams.com GoSuffolkRams.com 0-4-2 Oct. 26, 2024, T, 1-1 Never Tied 2

BOSTON – Suffolk men's soccer's hunt for the Conference of New England (CNE) crown continues Saturday, Nov. 9 when the second-seeded Rams welcome fifth seed Roger Williams to James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park for the championship contest. First kick is set for 12:00 p.m.

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2024 CNE MEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT

First Round - Saturday, Nov. 2
Game 1: No. 5 Roger Williams defeated No. 4 Hartford, 3-0 – Box Score
Game 2: No. 3 Western New England vs. No. 6 Gordon, T, 1-1 (PK Home, 5-3) – Box Score

Semifinals - Wednesday, Nov. 6
Game 3: No. 5 Roger Williams defeated No. 1 Endicott, 3-2 (ot) – Box Score
Game 4: No. 2 Suffolk defeated No. 3 Western New England, 1-0 – Box Score 

Championship - Saturday, Nov. 9
Game 5: No. 5 Roger Williams at No. 2 Suffolk – 12:00 p.m. – Live Stats | Live Video 

SUFFOLK IN THE POSTSEASON

• Suffolk is in the midst of its 22nd overall conference appearance, fourth in the CNE, with 18 visits to the GNAC conference tournament. 
• The Rams advanced to the conference championship for the third time in program history, first since 2022. 
• The blue-and-gold played in the league semifinal for the sixth time and the third straight season.
• It is the first time in program history that Suffolk is competing in a league postseason as the second seed.
• Overall, the Rams have hoisted a conference crown once, in 2010, when it captured the GNAC title. 
• Suffolk defeated Western New England, 1-0, in the semifinals Wednesday. It is the third-ever league semifinal win for the Rams, first since they upset top-seeded Endicott, 2-0, in the 2022 CNE Tournament. 
• Suffolk is 3-2-1 in the conference semis and 2-0-1 when playing in the CNE semis.
• Suffolk hosted the conference semifinal for the first time. 
• The Rams will host their ninth-ever conference postseason game, first conference championship contest.
• As the home team, the Rams are 5-2-1 in a conference tournament, including an unbeaten, 2-0-1 mark in the current CNE (former CCC) tenure.
• The Rams are 3-2-2 in the postseason in the Bill Maddock era. 
• Suffolk has needed extra time to determine a winner in a league postseason game four times. The Rams are 1-1-2 in OT outings in the playoffs. 
• Suffolk went into a PK shootout in the postseason twice, including last season's semifinal showdown at WNE. 
• The Rams have advanced via PKs once, in 2022 quarterfinals versus Salve Regina, Oct. 29, 2022, via a 5-4 shootout, and were eliminated via PKs once, in 2023 semis at WNE, Oct. 31, 2023, via a 4-3 shootout. 
• 18 of Suffolk's 29 postseason games have come via shutouts. The Rams are 5-13-0 in shutouts in a conference postseason. 
• At home, the Rams are 3-1-0 in postseason shutouts. 
• On the road, Suffolk sports a 2-12-0 postseason cleansheet record. 
• Suffolk's last shutout in the postseason came in this year's semifinal contest, a 1-0 win over third seed Western New England.
• Suffolk potted three goals in the CCC Quarterfinals game against Salve Regina Oct. 29, 2022. The three strikes are the most in the playoffs by the Rams in program history. 
  

RAMS IN THE CNE CROWN CHASE

• The Rams are in their fourth straight trip to the CNE Tournament in as many years in the league. 
• Suffolk will compete in the CNE Championship contest for the second time in program history, first since 2022. 
• The Rams look for their first-ever CNE Championship. 
• The blue-and-gold hosted the CNE semifinals for the first time in program history. 
• Suffolk sports a 3-2-2 all-time record in the conference postseason. 
• Suffolk is playing in the CNE tourney as the second seed for the first time. 
• At home, the Rams are 2-0-1 in the CCC tournament.  
• On the road, Suffolk is 1-2-1 in the CCC postseason games. 
• Four CNE postseason games have been determined via shutouts.
• Suffolk is 3-1-0 when a team is kept off the scoreboard in the CNE tournament.
• Two CNE postseason contests have gone into overtime, both ended in stalemates.   

LAST TIME OUT
It was a case of déjà vu Wednesday night at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park as Suffolk men's soccer and Western New England played to a 1-0 decision for the second time this season.  

This time though a ticket to the 2024 Conference of New England Championship was on the line and the second-seeded Rams came out on top when it mattered most, defeating the third-seeded Golden Bears via shutout fashion in the league semifinals. 

Edward Abouzeid scored the lone goal on the night, while, Nathan Harlow stood tall in goal for the shutout. 

The victory not only sends the blue-and-gold to the conference championship for the second time in three seasons, but avenges last season's heartbreaking semifinals shootout setback to the Golden Bears in Springfield, Massachusetts.  

MORE READING: CNE Championship Bound: Men's Soccer Shutouts Western New England 1-0 in Semis

SUFFOLK SCORES

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk (10-6-4) has coupled back-to-back wins together – a 3-0 victory at Wentworth and a 1-0 shutout of Western New England – to hit the 10-win mark for the third consecutive season.  

The Rams' 34-goal offense has seen four players hit the double-digit point mark in Francisco Valck (7g), Luke Blawn (5g, 3a), Diego Pierantozzi (3g, 4a) and Damon Smargon (4g, 2a). Edward Abouzeid has also been a scoring threat with three goals, including one game-winner in the semifinals against Western New England. 

Nathan Harlow is Suffolk's usual keeper. The sophomore sports a 0.89 GAA and .824 save percentage in 17 games played, all starts. He boasts a 9-4-4 record with seven shutouts to his credit. 

HAVE TO KNOW 'BOUT THE HAWKS
Roger Williams (11-7-3) has upset its way to the conference championship as the fifth-seeded Hawks blanked fourth seed Hartford, 3-0, in the first round and stunned top-seed Endicott, 3-2, in overtime, to punch its ticket to the title tilt.  

Tyler Jastrab has provided 21 points on an evenly divided stat line of seven goals and seven assists. Liam Blaisdell is second on the squad with 15 points with six strikes and three set-ups. John Fogarty rounds out the top trio of offensive threats with four goals and four helpers. 

Hogan Cain is the go-to goalie for RWU. He has started all 20 games for RWU and brings in a 1.16 GAA and 0.689 save percentage into the championship contest. Overall he is 11-7-2 with five cleansheets.   

WE MEET AGAIN
Suffolk men's soccer responded to Roger Williams first half goal with a second half strike to even the score at 1-all, but neither team was able to break open the tie the rest of the way for the Conference of New England (CNE) contest to end in a 1-1 draw Saturday, Oct. 26 at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park.  

MORE READING: Men's Soccer Ties Roger Williams, 1-1

SUFFOLK SCORES

INSIDE THE SERIES

• The Rams are 0-4-2 all-time against the Hawks in the series that started in 1990. 
• Suffolk has yet to find the win column against Roger Williams. 
• The Rams and Hawks have played to back-to-back draws including a 1-1 stalemate two weeks ago, Oct. 26, in Eastie. 
• The Rams have found the back of the net against RWU twice. Once in the last meeting, Oct. 26, and once in the conference championship, a 2-1 loss to the Hawks, Nov. 5, 2022. 
• Four of the six meetings between Suffolk and Roger Williams have been shutouts. The Rams are 0-3-1 in such instances. 
• Suffolk is 0-3-2 versus RWU under Bill Maddock's guidance. 
• The Rams and Hawks will meet in the postseason for the second time, first since the 2022 conference championship contest, a 2-1 Suffolk setback, Nov. 5, 2022. 
• Suffolk is 0-1-0 in the postseason versus RWU.  

STATS SHOWDOWN

WHAT'S NEXT?
An automatic berth to the 2024 NCAA Division III Championship is on the line. The conference champion will earn the CNE's ticket with the selection show set for Monday, Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.