After going winless in 13 straight games, the GW men’s soccer team ended its season winning four of its last five games, including a pair of Atlantic 10 victories this weekend.
GW (5-12-2, 4-5-2 A-10) defeated St. Joseph’s 4-0 Friday and Temple 4-3 Sunday at South Riding Field.
Ben Ferry completed his GW career as the Colonials’ all-time leader in assists with 45 and seventh all-time in scoring with 65 points. Senior Ben Hatton ended his stay at GW 10th in career goals with 19.
Hatton finished as the Colonials top goal scorer on the season with six. Sophomore Evan Nierman and freshman Jason Holloway tallied five apiece.
GW improved on last season’s 4-6-1 A-10 record. Tri-captains Ferry, Hatton and Craig Jones each played their last game for GW Sunday.
GW 4, Temple 3
Ben Ferry went out with a bang in his final collegiate match, scoring the game-winning goal against Temple in the second minute of overtime Sunday.
Ferry took a pass from Jason Holloway on GW’s half of the field, got passed Temple’s defense and beat the Owls’ goalkeeper one-on-one for the goal from 10 yards out.
Temple (5-12-1, 5-6-0) took an early 2-0 lead on goals by Mike Skahan and Matt Smith in the fourth and seventh minutes, respectively.
But GW responded in the 19th minute as Hatton scored on an assist from Holloway.
The Colonials then tied the game on a Craig Jones goal, assisted by Kali Hislop in the 26th minute. A minute later, Holloway scored on an assist from Evan Nierman to give GW a 3-2 lead.
Temple knotted the score at 3-3 in the 51st minute on a goal by Anthony Caruso.
GW goalkeeper Michael Jelencovich recorded four saves in his fourth win of the season. The Colonials outshot the Owls, 23-10.
GW 4, St. Joe’s 0
GW dominated St. Joseph’s 4-0 Friday, recording its most lopsided victory of the season.
Junior Evan Nierman tallied a pair of goals as senior Ben Hatton notched a goal and an assist against the Hawks (4-12-2, 3-5-2).
The Colonials opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Nierman blasted a 12-yard shot from the center of the goal box, beating the St. Joe’s goalkeeper inside the right post. The play was set up by a Hatton pass to Ferry, who hit Nierman with a cross for the wide open shot.
Five minutes later, sophomore Jeff Greenspan scored the first goal of his GW career. The score developed when Nierman hit a 16-yard shot that was partially blocked by the goalie. Greenspan controlled the rebound and netted the goal from point-blank range.
Hatton got in on the scoring in the 45th minute when he headed a Craig Jones free kick inside the right post from 15 yards out.
Nierman accounted for the final goal of the contest on a penalty kick in the 73rd minute.
Colonial goalie Michael Jelencovich recorded two saves. GW outshot St. Joe’s 20-5.
