BOSTON, MA (November 2, 2023) – The UMASS Boston Beacons sink the Rhode Island College Anchormen 4-2 following 90 minutes of hard-nosed soccer from both sides. It was a collective team effort from the Beacons who had three different goal scorers, first-year forward Rafael Gross, sophomore midfielder Gabriel Meireles, and senior forward Josh DeAlmeida each contributing for the Beacons on a chilly afternoon from Monan Park.

Beacons showcased an offensive onslaught from whistle to whistle, accumulating 20 total shots with eight on target, compared to the Anchormen's seven total shots with four on target. Beacons held an 18 to two corner kick advantage, as they were precise in their offensive opportunities through their midfield triangle give-and-goes. Overall, the game's physicality grew with time due to the tension that rose throughout the remainder of the second half as each team accrued nearly twenty fouls, combining for 36 total fouls on the day. 

The Beacons had their foot on the gas pedal from the opening whistle, as Meireles wasted no time in recording the first shot of the game four minutes into the game. Minutes later, Meireles received a through ball from the Beacon's back line that went uncontested by the Anchormen defense as Meireles received the pass mid-stride towards the Beacon's offensive third. Despite the tight Anchormen defense, Meireles would send in a cross that took one bounce into the 18-yard box. Anchormen defenders were caught napping as Gross was able to fly in to send in the opening goal with a line drive header passed the Anchormen goalkeeper Jake Reed just 11 minutes into the first half.

The second goal of the game was decided via a penalty kick originally drawn by junior defenseman Marron Acheampong, following a lobbed entry pass from junior defenseman Diego Gisholt from just inside the Beacon's half. Acheampong was lined up to score after settling the second ball before he was tripped up from behind by the Anchormen defense earning the Beacons the opportunity from the spot. Meireles lined up the spot and rifled it home without hesitation to propel the Beacon's lead to two before the halftime break.

Anchormen found the scoreboard shortly after coming out of the break, as graduate forward Braedon Cannon lined up a right-footed entry pass from 30 yards out from an RIC free kick. Cannon's curler found a cutting Lucas Duquette who timed his run perfectly, as he volleyed home the free kick into the top right from behind the Beacon defense to cut the lead in half with plenty of time left for an Anchormen comeback.

14 minutes into the second half, Anchormen forward Tariq Adio was causing chaos for the Beacon defense with his speed and dribbling. Adio capitalized on a breakaway baiting Gisholt into a hard foul in the penalty area to earn the second penalty on the day. The equalizer was sent home by junior midfielder Jesus Guarcas as he calmly stepped into his shot sent into the top right corner.

Spectators could barely blink before the Beacons could find an answer, as first-year forward John Arruda cut inside from the left wing and sent in a troubling cross that was deflected by an assisting Anchormen defender. The deflection took a lucky bounce for the Beacons as it found the back of the net to put them back up by one with plenty of time remaining in the second half.

With time winding down and just under five minutes remaining, the Anchormen still battled for a late equalizer in hopes of bringing the matchup to extra time. Until the heroics of senior forward Josh DeAlmeida connected on a long lob pass from Ian Visnick just inside the Beacon's half, giving UMASS Boston the two-goal lead with just less than five minutes remaining.

With the win today, the Beacons improved to 13-4-2 on the season, as they advanced to their second consecutive Little East Championship game. The Beacons will play the winner of the contest between the third-seeded Western Connecticut State University, and the second-seeded Keene State University. The 2023 Little East Men's Soccer Championship will be played from Monan Park at the BC High junior varsity field in Boston, MA on Saturday, November 4 at noon. Tune into UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website (sidearmsports.com) for live stats and video coverage.