SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Clark men's soccer (1-0-0) opened the 2025 season and Samuel Matteson era with a 1-0 victory over WNE (0-2-0) sparked by a second half goal from senior Ben Siegel on Sunday afternoon from Suprenant Field.

Matteson earned his first career victory as a head coach.

How it Happened

• Senior Mauro Perez Colon fired a shot on goal in the third minute that was stopped before fellow senior Like Sheldon attempted a shot that went right of the target as the Cougars applied early pressure.
• Siegel created a chance in the 25th minute that was saved and in the 27th minute, senior Diego Marin tallied a save.
• In the 33rd minute, junior Charles Lopez nearly found the back of the net before the Golden Bears came away with a team save.
• Clark defended a pair of corner kicks and held WNE scoreless in the first half as the teams entered the break tied at 0-0.
• Marin opened the second half with a save off a shot from Jack Leland before the Cougars netted their first goal of the season as junior Myles Nelson-Atkins sent a ball to Sheldon, who found Sigel as the senior beat the keeper to take a 1-0 edge in the 56th minute.
• Over a two-minute span in the middle of the half, Marin tallied a pair of saves to keep the Cougars in front before first-year Shahmeer Waseem nearly added to the lead but had his shot saved in the 81st minute,
• The Clark defense held the Golden Bears without a shot on target over the final nine minutes as the scarlet and white prevailed 1-0.

Inside the Box Score

• Clark attempted 11 shots (five on target) and earned three corner kicks.
• Siegel scored his first goal of the season and eighth as a Cougar.
• Sheldon's assist was his first this year and second of his career.
• Nelson-Atkins also recorded his first assist of the 2025 campaign and second career helper.
• Marin tallied five saves.

What's Next
The scarlet and white will return to the pitch on Wednesday night when they travel to Wentworth for a contest beginning at 6:00 p.m.