WILLIMANTIC, Conn. --  Eastern Connecticut State University freshman keeper Greg Walton (Brunswick, ME) made six saves to record his seventh shutout of the season and he was helped by a defensive save midway through the second half as the Warriors played the U.S. Coast Guard Academy to a scoreless double-overtime men's soccer draw Tuesday afternoon in the final regular-season home match at Thomas Nevers Field.

At right: Eastern's seniors were in lockstep prior to Tuesday's Seniors' Day match. (Photo by Liam Murphy)

Both teams had numerous chances to break through, combining on 37 shots and 11 corner kicks. Walton of Eastern (9-2-4) was matched by Coast Guard (6-6-3) junior Richie Burns, who made ten saves to record his sixth save.

The Warriors outshot the Bears 6-3 in overtime but could not break through, although they were able to shut out Coast Guard for the fourth straight season and improve their home record this year to 7-1-1 with their seventh home shutout.

All three of Eastern's shots in the first overtime period were on target, two by senior Carl Stensland (Storrs) and one by senior Mitch Power (Douglas, MA). Stensland, a midfielder, had two prime opportunities when he had his foot on the ball in the middle of the box. The first midway through the first OT came on a serve from senior Mike Radlbeck (Westbrook) and the second three minutes later was a low shot through traffic on a pass from sophomore Timothy Jennison (Coventry). Power, who had cleared a ball off the line in the second quarter on a shot by junior John Tarzian off a corner from senior John Rendon, nailed a sinking liner from 20 yards with 3:30 left but Burns made an impressive stop.

With five minutes left in regulation, Walton stretched flat out to his right on a shot from the right side of the box by senior Robert Copeland and got his fingertips on it to knock it just wide.

Eastern's best chance to get a ball by Burns came midway through the first overtime, when freshman Mark Richards (Springfield, MA) sprung Power on the left wing. Power carried a long distance – beating Copeland to open up space – but his hard drive from 18 yards sailed over the crossbar.

Eastern, which honored its six outgoing seniors prior to the start of the match, closes out the regular season with Little East Conference road matches at Massachusetts Dartmouth Saturday at 1 p.m. and at Plymouth State University Saturday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. Undefeated and atop the conference, the Warriors are moving in on their third straight regular-season conference championship.