Men’s soccer got their momentum back, winning the Little East Conference championship with their Nov. 8 game against Western Connecticut.
The Beacons tamed the Plymouth Panthers in their own territory with a 3-0 win Oct. 25. They followed this up with a 4-0 home game victory against the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs Oct. 29.
The team went in hard against Plymouth State in an Oct. 25 game, and player Ryan Doherty struck early, giving the Beacons a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
The second half saw junior Jair Whyte led with his first ever collegiate goal, bringing the team to a 2-0 advantage just five minutes into the second half. This set the scene for a goal from junior
Rafael Gross, who closed out the game in its 86th minute.
Gross has been one of the top scorers this season as he lights up the scoreboard in almost every single game. The Beacons played heavy defense and offense, giving the Panthers almost no chances to score, and with freshman goalkeeper Nolan McKenna they never stood a chance.
After securing their 3-0 win against the Panthers, the Beacons set the home field ablaze when they hosted the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs Oct. 29 — but UMass is all the teams had in common. What started as a relatively relaxed match soon heated up with Gross’s goal halfway through the first half, giving the team a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute.
They started exerting more pressure offensively, outshooting the Corsairs by a whopping 16-4. Gross set the scene for junior John Arruda to strike, which brought the Beacons up to a 2-0 lead going into halftime
The second half saw the same strategy from the Beacons as they flaunted their offensive dominance. Just seven minutes into the second half, Arruda netted his second unassisted goal, bringing the Beacons a 3-0 lead.
The last goal came from Doherty just 20 minutes after Arruda’s. This was the final nail in the Corsairs’ coffin, securing a 4-0 conference win for the Beacons. The team was charged both offensively and defensively: first year goalkeeper Mario Hajhdi did not let a single ball slip through his fingers. This balance is what is helping the Beacons stay on top of their opponents.
This win was important for the team, since it gave them an extended break before they went to the Little East Conference and allowed them to prepare for their first opponents: the Rhode Island Anchormen.
Now in conference play, the Beacons hosted Rhode Island College Nov. 5 and traveled to Western Connecticut State Nov. 8. They won both games, conquering the Anchormen 4-1 and finally toppling the Wolves 2-1. This marked the program’s fifth LEC win.
Now, the team will head to the NCAA Regional Tournament — in the meantime, the Beacons will play at the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Selection Show Nov. 10.
