Box Score
BOSTON, Mass.—Senior Pedro Dasilva scored his second of two goals 7:39 into the first overtime, to lift #3 UMass Boston men's soccer to their second consecutive Little East Conference Tournament Championship Saturday night at James Cotter Field.
THE BASICS
#3 UMass Boston 2, #4 Rhode Island College 0
(UMass Boston 16-4)
(Rhode Island College 11-7)
HOW IT HAPPENED
After falling behind 1-0 for the second-consecutive year, Dasilva scored at 66:58 of the second half and 97:39, to lift UMass Boston to their second-ever Little East Conference Tournament Crown.
Dasilva was named the Little East Conference Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament, after scoring three of the Beacons' four goals, including both game-winners.
With the victory, UMass Boston earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. This marks the second time in program history the Beacons will play in the NCAA Tournament.
Senior Alfonso Rosales (Revere, Mass.) posted eight saves on nine shots, to improve to 4-0 all-time in LEC Tournament Play.
On the other side, junior goalie Chris Moura made six saves, including several tremendous stops, on eight total shots. The Anchormen also were credited with a team save.
Dan Monteiro opened the scoring 24:35 into the contest, with his second goal of the season. Sophomore Ty Catunto sped down the near sideline and slipped a cross into Monteiro 10-yards out, and Monteiro's shot deflected off a Beacons' defender and past Rosales for a 1-0 lead.
The Beacons nearly evened the scored 10 minutes into the second half, but Guillherme Barbosa's shot from inside the 6-yard box, was knocked away by Moura.
UMass Boston evened the scored 10 minutes later, on a terrific individual effort from Dasilva. Freshman Mohamed Kenaway (Revere, Mass.) flicked a pass into the 18-yard box and Dasilva held off a center back on his back shoulder and then sent a left-footed flick past Moura to the far side for a 1-1 tie.
The play opened up from there, with both teams earning tremendous opportunities.
Dennis Vasquez fired a free kick from 35-yards out on the near side that Rosales struggled to catch and had to drop on the goal line, but the referee ruled that the ball never crossed the goal line at 71:55.
The Anchormen earned another great chance off a free kick minutes later, but sophomore center back Marcelo Cunha (Goiania, Brazil) stepped in front of a shot that was destined for the back of the net.
Junior Edmilson Barros (Praia, Cape Verde) had two great chances to give the Beacons the win, but both times Moura stood up to the task. In the 77th minute, Barros was onside inside the 18-yard box, but his low shot was deflected away by a diving Moura. He nearly scored the goal of the season at 94:43, when his blast from 35-yards out nearly found the back of the net, if not for a tremendous effort by Moura to punch it over.
UMass Boston came away with the winner on their second corner of overtime and seventh overall.
Senior Elton Teixeira (Fogo, Cape Verde) sent a swinging corner to the back post that Barros headed off the inside of the post. The ball then bounced over Moura, wh had dived to make the initial save, and fell to the foot of Dasilva at the far post, who rammed it home for his team-leading seventh game-winner of the season.
BY THE NUMBERS
- UMass Boston outshot Rhode Island College 19-15, with the two teams even at 9-9 in shots on goal.
- The Beacons earned all seven corner kicks in the contest.
- UMass Boston has now three-straight games against the Anchormen for the second-time in program history. With the win, the Beacons improved to 13-22-2 against Rhode Island College.
- Head coach Jake Beverlin improved to 4-0 all-time in the LEC Tournament.
WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston will wait for the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on NCAA.com on Monday at 1:30 p.m.
