Daniel Webster Tops Newbury, 5-1

Nashua - It was a senior day to remember for Daniel Webster College men's soccer team captain Andre Garcia (Springfield, Mass.).
 
Playing in his final regular season collegiate game in arguably one of the most important outings in program history, Garcia erupted for a career high four goals guiding his Eagles past upstart Newbury College, 5-1 to give the Eagles the outright NECC Regular Season Crown - the first ever title for the program since its inception in 1993.
 
Garcia, who came into the game with three goals on the season, was nearly a one-man wrecking crew late in the second half as the Eagles (10-5, 6-1 NECC) also broke the all time program record for victories in a season, surpassing the nine wins the team posted last season.
 
The win gives the Eagles the top seed and a first round bye for the six-team NECC tourney. Daniel Webster will host a semifinal on Friday, November 6th at 2:00 p.m. taking on the winner of fifth-seeded Mitchell College and fourth-seeded Southern Vermont College, who meet in a Wednesday quarterfinal.
 
Newbury (5-11, 5-2 NECC), playing its second NECC contest in less than 24 hours after topping Becker 2-0 yesterday, finished third in the conference standings, and will host sixth-seeded Elms College Wednesday. The winner will advance to visit second seeded Lesley University in Friday's other semifinal.
 
The NECC championship game is slated for Sunday, November 8th at 1:00 p.m.
 
Garcia set the tone early, putting the hosts ahead in 16:32 into the game taking a Ryan Kunker (Clifton Park, N.Y.) pass down the right sideline, wrestling the loose ball off a Nighthawk defender and burying an eight-yarder to the top right corner for a 1-0 lead.
 
After the Eagles took that lead to the break, the game remained tight up until the final 20 minutes despite DWC finishing with a 20-8 total shots advantage on the day.
 
Alex Jackson found Garcia across the middle with a cross pass that Garcia headed home at the 72;22 mark for a 2-0 advantage and Garcia followed 5;11 later with another unassisted tally for the natural hat trick.
 
Nick Klesh would follow just 34 seconds later with his first of the year and Garcia would hit the four spot in the 81st with another unassisted strike.
 
Shaundize Moosavizad (Winchester, Mass.) helped the Nighthawks avert the shutout with his fourth of the year in the 84th for the 5-1 final.
 
Eagle keeper Joe Keene (Bristol, N.H.) earned the win in goal making three saves, while Gregory Poulin (Manchester, N.H.) allowed one goal in relief.
 
William McNally (Grafton, Mass.) made seven saves for Newbury.

Story by: Ken Belbin (Daniel Webster)

Photo by: Samantha Yanofsky