BOSTON, MA (September 20, 2024) – The Beacons' men's soccer team will look to protect its home turf of the Boston College High School Junior Varsity Field on Saturday afternoon against the Plymouth State Panthers for the Beacons' 2024 Little East Conference opener.

Previously

• The Beacons and the Panthers have a long history dating back to 1980, when the two teams faced off for the first time. The Panthers took the first meeting, and since then, the Beacons have gone 12-27-6 against Plymouth State. The most significant margin of victory for the Beacons over the Panthers occurred in 2016 and in 2022 when UMass Boston shut out Plymouth State 5-0. The Beacons have taken the last three matchups, with the Panthers' previous win coming from a 1-0 battle in 2015.
   

This Season

• This season, the Beacons have opened up 2-1-3 with victories against Salve Regina (2-0), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (3-1). Their last game against Bridgewater State University resulted in a 1-1 tie, their third of the season following draws against Plattsburgh State and Wheaton College. The Beacons are yet to drop any points from their home turf this season, maintaining a 100%-win record from their home field through the first six games.
• Senior forward Josh DeAlmeida (Revere, Mass.) and first-year forward Eduardo Chirico (Minas Gerais, Braz.) each lead goal-scoring production for UMass Boston, with DeAlmeida tallying three goals and Chirico registering two. Junior midfielder Elijah Elliot (Hope Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago.) has stepped up as the primary provider for the Beacons offense, supplying a team-high two assists. Senior goalkeeper JJ Devine (Halifax, Mass.) and graduate goalkeeper Andy Ramirez (Waltham, Mass.) have split the duties between the posts this season, with Ramirez registering a team-high 15 saves through four games played and Devine registering 13 saves through four games and 22 shots faced.
• Plymouth State has gone a steady 3-3 since their season opener, with wins coming against Maine Maritime (2-1), New England College (2-1), and Vermont State University Johnson (6-1). Two of the three Panther losses this season have come by way of the blowout, with 4-0 losses against Rivier, and Colby-Sawyer.
• Despite Plymouth State's back-and-forth start to the season, one constant that remains consistent is senior forward Faisal Abdallah. In six games played and four starts, Abdallah has recorded three goals off 20 shots and 13 on target, maintaining a consistent offensive presence for the Panthers. The Panthers offense has a wide range of suppliers, as eight players have tallied one or more assists. Senior goalkeeper for the Panthers, Nicolas Cornejo Mora, has been a wall, tallying 25 saves against 51 shots, allowing just 12 goals in five starts.

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Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.