Box Score
WENHAM, Mass. – A late goal from Andrew Vandervoort (Memphis, Tenn.) in the final two minutes ended up as the difference in a physical CCC opener between Gordon and Western New England. The Scots built up a two-goal lead in the first half, but the Golden Bears tied the game on a penalty kick in the second half. Vandervoort's clincher gave Gordon their first conference victory of the season and continued the team's lengthy winning streak.
 
The pressure of the first conference match of the year loomed in the air well before the opening whistle. Two teams who have started the year hot, Gordon and Western New England, set the tone of the game early with physical play.
 
Gordon entered the game 4-0—something that has not been accomplished by the program since seasons started being archived in 2003. However, the Scots knew that a conference matchup would have a much different feel than their first four games.
 
The Scots tested out the feel of the game early on and dared the Golden Bears to combat their speed with physicality. For the first few minutes of the game Western New England pressured Gordon into a few mistakes in the back, until the Scots were able to settle down.
 
In the 18^th minutes Kellen Kasiguran (Oakwood Village, Ohio) fired a ball off the laces on a beautiful cross by Caleb Cole (Coatesville, Penn.). Cole's center from the right side skipped over the heads of two Golden Bear defenders and Kasiguran finished the play with a goal that was impossible to stop.
 
Kasiguran kept the rowdy Brigham crowd on his side when he struck again off of a free kick, deep in WNE territory. The Gordon senior curled the ball around the hands of Western New England keeper Domenick Villano and into the left side of the webbing for his second goal of the night.
 
The Scots hunkered down on defense for the remainder of the half, but the Golden Bears kept knocking on the door.
 
Western New England finally broke through the Scots' defense in the 38^th minute when key reserve, Scott Trautwein, finished a ball hanging in front of the net. Golden Bears' midfielder, Ryan Dickinson, flicked a ball into the fray and Trautwein was able to tap it past a diving Tim Hardy (Gorham, Maine) to make a 2-1 ballgame.
 
The two teams entered halftime with the game 2-1 in Gordon's favor.
 
Physicality was the name of the game again in the second half, as each team made moves toward their opponent's net.
 
Villano kept the score at 2-1, when he made an incredible diving save to stop a ball off the foot of Scots' defender Kevin Payne. Payne's shot ricocheted off of a Bears' defender and almost bounded into the net, if not for Villano's quick reaction.
 
Feeding off of his energy, Western New England almost scored the equalizer in the 65^th minute on a shot by Ryan Williams. Williams got loose in front of the Gordon net and ripped a shot to Hardy's right side. The world seemed to slow down for just a moment as Hardy robbed Williams from a sure-goal to keep the lead for the Scots.
 
That lead would not be safe for long because in the 70^th minute, Western New England was the beneficiary of a Gordon handball in the 18-yard box. The foul set up a penalty kick situation for the Golden Bears.
 
Jake Bartnik slammed the free kick past a diving Hardy to even the score with only 20 minutes to play.
 
Gordon and Western New England traded barbs for the next 18 minutes until Gordon found their best opportunity of the half. A breakdown in the Bears' defense allowed Vandervoort and Andy Guthrie (Beaver Falls, Penn.) to set up shop on the left side of the field.
 
Guthrie settled a ball and sent one to the feet of Vandervoort, only 10 yards from the net. Vandervoort poked the ball past an approaching Villano and into the net—sending the Scots' faithful into a crazed applause.
 
The Golden Bears would get two corner kick opportunities in the closing minute, but neither would provide to be fruitful attempts.
 
Hardy kept his win-streak alive at five games, while Villano falls to 3-2 on the year. Villano had three saves in the losing effort.
 
Kasiguran added his fourth and fifth goals of the season, which puts him atop the CCC statistical leaders after this weekend's competition.
 
The Scots return to the pitch on Tuesday for an away match with Clark University in Worcester at 6:00 p.m.