Men's Soccer Blanks Endicott, 4-0, in Season Opener

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Zach Kabelac notched two goals and two assists to power the MIT men’s soccer team to a 4-0 victory over visiting Endicott College on Tuesday afternoon. Christian Therkelsen tacked on two goals as the Engineers (1-0) registered their ninth straight season-opening win.

The opening frame was defensive battle with neither side finding the back of the net. The Cardinal and Gray had several chances to end the deadlock, but Gulls’ goalie Daniel Higgins kept the hosts off the board.

MIT snapped the scoring drought just 1:53 into the second stanza when Kabelac sent a throughball to Therkelsen for his first marker of the season. A few minutes later, Endicott (0-1) made several close-range attempts to register the equalizer but the Engineers’ defense stymied the attack. MIT extended its margin in the 54th minute on a Kabelac strike. Max Stein-Golenbock found the sophomore forward, who placed the ball just under the crossbar.

The Therkelsen-Kabelac connection returned in the 69th minute to give the Engineers a 3-0 lead. Kabelac sent a throughball along the near sideline which Therkelsen dribbled past a pair of defenders and placed in the lower far corner of the net. During the next minute, a throw-in by the Gulls’ TJ Sapienza landed at the feet of Colin Doody. As he attempted to corral the ball, MIT’s defense swarmed and ended the scoring threat.

The Engineers capped the scoring in the 72nd minute following a miscue by Higgins as he came out of the box with ball. Standing at the top of the box, Kabelac calmly sent the ball around the wall and into the top right corner of the goal. Over three minutes later, Endicott made another charge at net as a free kick by Joe Ryan found Adam Skerpan in the middle of the box. He blasted the ball to the lower right corner, but it was stopped by MIT netminder Dylan Rankin’s outstretched left leg. Higgins prevented the Engineers from increasing their margin as he made a point-blank save on a strike from Jason Bouhenguel in a one-on-one situation.

Rankin collected three saves for MIT and earned the first shutout of his career. Higgins tallied six saves for the Gulls.

Next up for MIT will be a home game on Thursday, Sept. 3 against Salve Regina University. Endicott continues its road trip on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Salem State College.