Springfield, Mass. - September 28, 2024 - The Springfield College men's soccer team used three second half goals including a pair from sophomore Connor Policarpio (Bristol, Conn.) to defeat Clark University, 3-1, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play this afternoon on Brock-Affleck Field.

Springfield is now 3-4-1 overall and 2-0-0 in NEWMAC play, while Clark fell to 3-3-3, 0-1-1.

Policarpio led the offensive charge for the Pride with his third and fourth goals of the fall - one that came on a penalty kick and the other as an insurance marker with five minutes to play. First-year Morgan Thibodeau (Carrabassett Valley, Maine) also notched his second goal of the year for Springfield, which proved to be the game winner.

Clark, overall, held a 14-11 edge in shots and an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks. Both teams put seven shots on net over the course of 90 minutes today.

The visiting Cougars peppered the ball at Springfield keeper Noah Pote (Washington, Conn.) in the first half, but his four saves kept the match scoreless at the break.

Just 3:54 into the second, Policarpio gave Springfield a 1-0 edge as he buried a penalty kick into the back of the net. Thibodeau doubled Springfield's advantage about 14 minutes later with a strike that he finished off a pass from Parker Thornton (Malden, Mass.).

After Clark got a goal back with under ten to play, Policarpio potted an insurance goal as he chipped the ball from midfield over the keeper's head to account for the 3-1 final. Today marked Policarpio's first multi-goal game of his collegiate career.

Pote made a total of six saves to improve to 2-2-1 on the season for the Pride.

Springfield will return to action on Wednesday, October 2 with a non-conference match at the University of Mount Saint Vincent at 6:00 pm.

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