Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass.— Supported by a strong defense, senior goalie Jordan Munsell (Waterford) needed only one save to record his third shutout in six career starts as the Eastern Connecticut State University men's soccer team opened its 2012 season with a 3-0 verdict over No. 23 nationally-ranked and host Western New England University in the opening round of the 2012 Soccer City Shootout Saturday afternoon at Suprenant Field.
Eastern, which received votes in in the 2012 NSCAA pre-season Division III poll, moved into Sunday's 2:30 p.m. championship game against the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, which downed Springfield College, 1-0, in the other first-round match Saturday.
Junior forward Mitch Power (Douglas, MA) scored the only goal the Warriors would need just 3 minutes and 29 seconds after the opening kickoff , and Eastern's defense of Munsell, senior Bradley Fletcher (Middletown), juniors Mike Radlbeck (Westbrook), Christopher Giustina (Enfield) and Jordan Clark (Manchester), and sophomore Nicholas Demo (Brookfield).
Munsell opened the season as the team's No. 1 goalie for the first time after serving as backup keeper to All-New England backstop Carl Appel each of the last three years.
Radlbeck, who set up Power's early first-half goal, made it 2-0 with a header set up by freshman Timothy Jennison (Coventry) and Clark in the 58th minute, and a An "own goal" three minutes later sealed the win.
The Warriors limited the Golden Bears to only seven shots and two corner kicks.
Western New England, ranked as high as third in New England last year, hadefeated Eastern 32 seconds into overtime last October 5 at Nevers Field.The Warriors went on to their fifth straight post-season tournament, however, downing Springfield College, 2-0, in the NCAA opener.
