The Beacons men’s soccer team made history on Nov. 8, beating the Keene State Owls 2-1 in double overtime to capture the first Little East Conference Tournament Championship in program history.
“It means a lot to a program and a team to win any championship,” said sophomore midfielder Arlindo Goncalves. “Being the first team in program history to win an LEC tournament championship is a blessing.”
Keene State took an early 1-0 lead in the 11th minute when Kaleb Lique-Naitove sent a volley past goalkeeper Alfonso Rosales.
Senior captain Douglas Silveira netted the Beacons’ first goal of the game in the 24th minute to knot it at one. That score would hold until sophomore Edmilson Barros headed a corner kick from Silveira into the net and sealed the victory in the 108th minute.
For his performance, Silveira earned the honor of Little East Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
The championship is just another accolade in this already historic season. The team also captured its first ever LEC regular season championship and will make its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
“Everyone’s performed very well throughout the year,” said second-year head coach Jake Beverlin. “We’ve had a very balanced group all season.”
Beverlin took over the reigns as head coach before the 2013 season — one in which he lead the team to an 11-7-1 record overall. Upon taking over the team, Beverlin made significant changes to the roster.
“When I started here last year I thought it would be a project and something that needed a bit more attention to detail,” Beverlin said, “I felt we had to go in a new direction and so we brought in a new team and only kept one player from the previous season.”
“We had to start fresh at the beginning of last season because the team at the time simply wasn’t good enough.”
Beverlin’s decisions have paid off for the team, as they have gone a combined 25-12-3 in his two seasons at the helm and punctuated the success with this NCAA Tournament berth.
“What works about this team is how we all connect and know how everyone plays,” Goncalves said, “It makes it easier for us to defend our own goal and also go forward and score.”
While the team has had some prolific scorers this season, including a 13 goal season from Pedro Dasilva, and high goal totals from the likes of Elton Teixeira, Rolando Barbosa, and others, the Beacons attribute their run of success to a full team effort from start to finish.
“I think the whole group of guys has really stepped up this year and got us to where we are now,” says Goncalves.
“I think everyone knew what we had to do this year in order to succeed,” added Beverlin.
“Based on talent and technical ability we were by far the best team in the conference, but you don’t win games on talent alone.”
The Beacons had a difficult start to the season, going 1-3 through the first four games including an 8-0 shellacking at the hands of Tufts University. Since that time, the guys have gone 13-2-2, including 5-1-1 in regular season conference games.
The Beacons now enter the Division III Men’s Soccer NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. Beverlin and his squad hope for continued success as they try to make a run at a national championship.
“Our initial goal in the beginning of the year was to be in the NCAA tournament and to make a run. We don’t want to get there and just be happy to be there and lose,” says Beverlin.
“We won the conference championship and completed that goal,” adds Goncalves, “now we have the opportunity to play in the national tournament and have a shot of going even further.”
Men’s soccer wins first conference title
The guys had not won an LEC Title prior to this victory
