Reminder Publications

Archives

Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

WNEC soccer teams reflect on successful seasons

SPRINGFIELD Both the Western New England College men and women's soccer teams enjoyed successful seasons this past fall with several local players making valuable contributions.

The Golden Bears' men's squad posted a 15-6-2 record and captured both the regular season The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) regular season (9-2 mark) and post-season tournament titles in their first season in the conference.

Western New England College also participated in the NCAA Division III Championship for the fourth consecutive year and hosted a national tournament match for the first time defeating Johnson & Wales 2-1.

Senior midfielder/forward Mike Stewart of Springfield (Cathedral High School) served as a team captain and gained All-TCCC honorable mention honors. He was third on the squad with 11 points (four goals, three assists).

Stewart had the winning goal in a 1-0 win over Colby-Sawyer in the semifinals of TCCC Tournament and the winning assist in the victory over Johnson & Wales in the NCAA Championship.

A pair of defenders, senior Matt Sullivan of Springfield (Cathedral High School) and sophomore Marco Gomes of Ludlow both gained All-TCCC Second Team awards. Gomes also was named the WNEC Defensive Most Valuable Player.

Junior midfielder/forward Tony Rosa and sophomore midfielder Justin Martins, both from Ludlow, along with freshman goalkeeper Chris Fontaine of Chicopee, also were members of the team.

Western New England College's women's team compiled a 13-6-3 record for the program's 12th winning season in 13 years. The Golden Bears placed second in TCCC with a 10-1-2 mark, a point behind Endicott.

Team members included junior defender Lauren Sokol of Enfield (Enrico Fermi High School), sophomore midfielder/defender Jordyn Peck of Monson and sophomore midfielder Angela Zguro of East Longmeadow.

Western New England College's Erin Sullivan (men) and Ludlow native Ron Dias (women) each received TCCC Coach-of-the-Year awards. Sullivan has a 106-57-15 record (63.8 percent) in eight seasons while Dias has compiled a 178-101-15 mark (63.1 percent) in 14 years.