Men's Soccer Preview: Becker College

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College men's soccer team will look to remain undefeated in New England Collegiate Conference play when they welcome Becker College to Leary Field Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday's game will also be Senior Day for the Blazers soccer squad.

Elms enters the matchup with a 7-6-3 mark on the season, and a 4-0-1 record in NECC play. The Blazers are 4-1-1 in their last six contests, including a record-setting 14-0 victory over Wheelock, followed by a pair of 1-0 wins at Newbury and Southern Vermont before a 1-1 tie with Lesley University. Offensively, the Blazers are generating 2.1 goals per contest, on 18.1 shots, while surrendering 1.25 goals on 14.3 shots to opponents.

Junior defender Connor O'Grady (Somers, Conn.) serves as the NECC's leading point scorer with 19 points on six goals and a NECC-high seven assists. Freshman forward Bobby Zaino (Avon, Conn.) has pumped in a team-high seven goals during his rookie season, ranking third in the NECC, while junior midfielder Lorenzo Rolocut (Somers, Conn.) has netted five goals and four assists for the Blazers. The trio of juniors Ryan Harris (Brandon, Mo.), Christian Kostka (Oxford, Conn.) and Nick Pennant (St. Andrew, Jamaica) has rotated between the pipes for Elms, posting a combined 1.19 goals against average and a .808 save percentage in 16 contests.

Becker College owns a record of 2-16 overall, and a 0-6 mark in the NECC. The Hawks are currently riding an eight-game losing streak where opponents have outscored Becker, 40-6. The Hawks are producing less a goal per game (.8) on 6.3 shots.

The Hawks are led by freshman midfielder Cody Lavallee (Burrillville, R.I.) with a team-high 13 points on a team-high six goals on a team-high 30 shots. Sophomore defender Michael Miklos (Brooklyn, N.Y.) has tallied three goals, while junior forward Dylan de Haas (Newington, Conn.) has added a pair of goals on the year.  Freshman Karl Cameron patrols the goal crease for the Hawks, registering a 5.11 goals against average and .602 save percentage with 118 saves, ranking second in the conference in saves.

Over the history of the matchup, the Blazers hold a 10-5-1 edge over the Hawks in their 16 career meetings. Elms claimed the last two matches, including a 1-0 victory in the 2013 campaign. The teams will meet on the pitch for a 4:00 p.m. kickoff at Leary Field Wednesday afternoon.

ELMS SOCCER