On a warm fall day on Saturday, November 8th, at Bayside Field, No. 1 Roger Williams University Hawks defeated No. 2 Suffolk Rams 4-3, on penalty kicks to claim the Conference of New England (CNE) Championship after a 1-1 draw in regulation.
After losing to Suffolk in a penalty shootout the previous season and losing to Western New England in a similar manner in 2023; the victory represents the Hawks’ second championship in the previous four years.
With six shots on goal compared to Suffolk’s five, the Hawks outshot the Rams 19–17. The Hawks received one yellow, the Rams received two, and Suffolk received 16 fouls compared to RWU’s 11.
The Hawks scored first after Dylan Robbins, junior from Johnston, R.I., passed a ball forward to Max Patenaude, senior captain from Pepperell, Mass., who sent a shot past Suffolk goalkeeper. Francisco Valck from Suffolk scored on a penalty kick in the 24th minute to tie the score at one.
In the second half, RWU had many early opportunities, including a corner kick and multiple shots. The Hawks and Rams were scoreless in the second half to end regulation, despite Roger Williams controlling most of the play. Both teams went into overtime tied at one after failing to take advantage of their opportunities.
Following a scoreless extra time period, with Carter Sewell in goal for the Rams, the Hawks took the lead in the penalty shootout; where Brandon Rodriguez, junior from Norwalk, Conn., scored the first goal, followed by Matthew Belluardo of Suffolk.
Dylan Trachtenburg completed the second effort to give Suffolk a 2-1 lead, after Patenaude missed for the Hawks. Diego Pierantozzi missed Suffolk’s third shot, but Aidan Jennings, freshman from San Diego, Calif., tied the score at two.
Jorge Beltran, senior from Madrid, Spain, scored to give the Hawks a 4-3 lead after both teams made their third shots. Goalkeeper Eliot Panaccione, junior from Pepperell, Mass., stopped Suffolk’s final attempt and sealed the Championship for the Hawks.
Roger Williams (13-1-6, 8-1-1 CNE) will play UMass Boston in Brunswick Maine on Saturday, November 15th, at 1:30 PM in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
