Box Score
NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University men's soccer sophomore midfielder Kyle Knoth (East Islip, N.Y.) headed in a left-footed feed from freshman Rainer Randell (Providence, R.I.) to give the Seahawks an early 1-0 lead in their Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) semifinal with Gordon College. Senior co-captains Bobby Ernst (Needham, Conn.) and Jacob Brigandi (Vernon, Conn.) collaborated on another header early in the second half as Salve Regina held on for a 2-1 victory to advance to the conference final for the first time since 2006.
In its regular-season meeting with Gordon (6-12-1) on Sept. 15, Salve Regina (15-5-1) gave up two first-half goals before rallying for a 3-2 victory. Ernst had netted a goal late in the first to end a five-game scoreless drought for the Seahawks against the Scots dating back to 2009.
Knoth's goal, his first of the season, came after a Mark Marino (Smithfield, R.I.) throw in from the far sideline then Randell and Issa Demirgioglu (Smithfield, R.I.) played a little give-and-go before Randell unloaded with his left foot.
Ernst scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season when he headed in Brigandi's free kick from the far sideline at the 60:18 mark. After Ernst subbed out, the Scots took advantage of his absence in the middle and went over the top on a free kick by sophomore midfielder Andy Guthrie (Beaver Falls, Pa.) that was headed in by freshman defender Dalton Weaner (Northbridge, Mass.) for his first collegiate goal.
Gordon's starting keeper Tim Hardy (Gorham, Maine), who returned to action for the first time since he suffered an injury on Oct. 20 against Eastern Nazarene, suffered an injury defending a loose ball near the foot of Seahawk sophomore Alex Wasilewski (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) with less than 20 minutes to play, leaving relief keeper Aaron Horton (Douglas, Mass.) to finish out the contest.
Salve Regina's Jeffrey L'Heureux (Litchfield, N.H.) made his sixth start of the season and stopped a pair of Scot shots for the victory.
The Seahawk victory guaranteed the conference championship game will be contested in Rhode Island. Salve Regina, the No. 2 seed, will only be on the road if No. 1 Roger Williams University bests No. 4 Nichols College in the other semifinal. The Hawks and Bison started at 4 p.m. in Bristol, R.I., and are headed to overtime at 1-1. No. 6 Gordon had advanced after upsetting No. 3 Endicott College on Oct. 27 in Beverly, Mass.
Release courtesy of Salve Regina sports information.
