Springfield, Mass. - September 6, 2017 - Behind three first-half goals, the Springfield College men's soccer cruised to a 3-0 victory over visiting Gordon College on a rainy Wednesday afternoon at Brock-Affleck Field. Springfield College, which was receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Division III Preseason National Rankings, improves to 2-0, while Gordon College, playing its third game of the 2017 season, falls to 1-2 on the year. 

In net, Springfield College's Stewart Frank (Pittsford, Conn.) recorded one save en route to his second win of the season, while his counterpart, Wesley Sprague (Naperville, Ill.) posted 10 stops in the setback. The Pride held a 22-6 shot advantage over 90 minutes of play, while also possessing five corner kicks to the Fighting Scots' four.

Gordon put forth a great chance just 10 minutes into the game when it was awarded a direct free kick just outside the box, but Matt Chartier (Concord, N.H.) curled his chance just wide to keep the game in a scoreless tie. Minutes later, a great play by Keon Haji (Shrewsbury, Mass.) earned Springfield College a corner kick, which was sent in by Danny Murphy (Old Saybrook, Conn.) to Xavi Arroyo (Concord, Mass.), who played a ball into the box. The cross was knocked into the air by Sprague, but when it came down, Cam Powell (Housatonic, Mass.) got to it first and found the back of the net to give the Pride a 1-0 lead. 

The Pride almost pushed its lead to a pair with 22:48 to play in the first half when Dexter Tenn (South Windsor, Conn.) got loose from his defender and let a long shot go, which hit the cross bar and was covered up by Sprague.  With 10:58 to play in the stanza, Springfield College earned its second goal when Frank sent a long ball from half field, which found the foot of Christian Schneider (Douglas, Mass.) for his second marker of the year to make it 2-0, Pride.

Springfield College would close out the half with its third tally of the stanza, as with 6:02 left, Jimmy Wilcox (Burlington, Conn.) sent a cross in from the right side, before Brad Deckel (Lansdale, Pa.) rose up above his defender and headed one into the right side of the net to make it 3-0 before the halftime break.

The second half was intense back-and-forth soccer, as both sides received quality chances in the frame.  

Gordon got another great chance to pull to within a pair with 27:50 to play in the game when Chartier had another direct free kick just outside the Springfield 18-yard box, but upon contact, the Pride's wall rose up and collectively blocked the chance to keep the Fighting Scots off the board. Springfield College got the best chance of the half when Wayne Belcher (Norton, Mass.) headed a cross that went just wide, before Emmanuel Agyemang (East Hartford, Conn.) put two chances on cage, which were both saved by Sprague. 

Up next, Springfield College will return home to Brock-Affleck Field on Saturday, September 9 for an 11 a.m. match with Westfield State.