SVC Opens NECC Play With Big Win
BOSTON, Mass. - The Southern Vermont College men’s soccer team scored three goals in each half on the way to a 6-0 shutout of Wheelock in New England Collegiate Conference play in Boston on Sunday.
The Mountaineers (5-2 overall, 1-0 NECC) were sparked by a hat
trick from sophomore captain Nick Haggerty to open league play with
the win.
"Overall, we’re pleased to open NECC play with a win," SVC
head coach Tim Penrod said. "We played sloppy in the first half,
but made some adjustments in the second half and got back to our
style of play.
"In the first half we were trying to beat them with speed to
through balls and that’s not what we do. That’s not
going to work against some of the teams we’ll be playing in
the NECC, so we had to get back to the possession style of soccer
that we play. The guys did a better job in the second half of
holding onto the ball and making quick movements away from the play
... we controlled the second half and got the win."
Haggerty scored two goals in the first half, with the first goal of
the game coming on an assist from Sean Moore. SVC freshman forward
Alex Borini had two goals in the match, while Moore added to the
win by scoring a goal of his own in the second half. Dave Gage,
Alex Greenough and Ben Naaktgeborn each helped the SVC cause with
an assist in the second half.
The Mountaineer shutout was posted by both Aaron Eschler and Elias
Skiff in split time.
"Our goal before the season was to make the conference playoffs,"
Penrod said. "So it’s good to begin conference play with a
solid win to start building toward the postseason."
SVC is back in action on Tuesday when SUNY Cobleskill travels to
Bennington for a game at 4 p.m.
