SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (September 2, 2007) – Senior Dan Lawrence (Easthampton, Mass.) tallied the game-winner off a corner kick from classmate Mike Stewart (Springfield, Mass.) as Western New England College defeated Clark University 2-1 in overtime Sunday (Sept. 2) to capture its own WNEC Classic title.

In the first match of the day, Springfield College (1-1) scored three unanswered goals in the second half for a 3-1 victory over Westfield State (0-2).

In that match, senior Nick Gumlaw (Agawam, Mass.) gave the Owls a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute before the Pride rallied after halftime.

Senior Tony Distasio (Burlington, Conn.) tied the contest in the 57th minute, followed by the game-winning goal by senior Chad Bonnell (Hazlet, N.J.) in the 70th minute. Distasio added an insurance goal in the 74th minute. He made the All-Tournament Team with classmate Michael Kilmartin (Waterford, N.Y.).

In the second match of the day, WNEC's Lawrence was voted the Classic Offensive MVP after netting the winning shot only 1:50 into the extra session. Stewart and sophomore Justin Martins (Ludlow, Mass.) were selected to the All-Tournament Team.

Clark (1-1) took a 1-0 lead on a goal by senior David Blum (Irvington, N.Y.) just 5:22 into the match. Sophomore Devin Weafer (Carmel, N.Y.) earned the assist.

The Golden Bears (2-0) knotted the match when Martin fired home a shot with assists from Stewart and junior Dale Totman (Conway, Mass.) in the 11th minute.

WNEC dominated action in the second half, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Clark sophomore Charlie Sherman (Amston, Conn.) had a shot with 1:05 left in regulation sail over the net from about 15 yards out. Junior goalkeeper Peter Wise (Providence, R.I.) made a great save in the opening of overtime off a shot by WNEC junior Brian Dill (Portland, Conn.).

Clark senior Lino Goncalves (Newton, Mass.) was voted the Classic Defensive MVP while Wise and senior Marc Labbe (Waterville, Me.) made the All-Tournament Team.

Gumlaw and sophomore Ben Berthiaume (Swansea, Mass.) were the Westfield State players gaining All-Tournament recognition.

published: 09/02/2007