Men’s Soccer Hands Springfield College First Loss of Season

Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University men's soccer team dealt Springfield College their first loss of the season today as the Rams used a second half goal to defeat the Pride 1-0 at Framingham's Maple Street Field.    

With the win, the Rams move closer to .500 as they are now 4-5-1 on the season, while the loss snaps a nine game unbeaten streak for the Pride who now sit at 6-1-3 on the year.

Both teams had opportunities to take the lead in the first half, but neither could find the back of the net.  Just under three minutes into the game, FSU sophomore Ronaldo Vieira (Framingham, Mass.) was open just outside the box and fired a shot on net that sailed just high of the crossbar.  Seven minutes later, Vieira had another opportunity as he sent a header at the net that was just wide.

The Pride had their best chances to score later in the half.  Freshman Mike Desroches (Enfield, Conn.) got behind the Rams defense and was one on one with Ram goalkeeper Billy Levitsky (Westford, Mass.), who had ventured way off his line.  Desrches beat Levitsky and had a clean look at the goal, but his shot hit the post and bounced out of bounds.  Later in the half on a similar play, freshman Kevin Nowak (Plainsboro, NJ) had a chance to connect on the game's first goal, but Levitsky came off his line and made a diving save on Nowak's bid sending the game into the break scoreless.

The Rams stuck first just over ten minutes into the second half when they had back to back corners.  On the second corner, freshman Bryan DaSilva (Milford, Mass.) sent the ball in front of the goal and classmate Cory Cardeiro (Westport, Mass) came streaking in alone from the top of the box and headed the ball into the back of the net. The goal, which proved to be the game-winner, is Cardeiro's second marker of the season and his second game-winner in as many games.

Springfield had several chances to tie the game in the final ten minutes as sophomore Drew Vanasse's (Concord, Mass.) had two good looks at the net, but Levitsky came up with a big save on one and Vanasse's header off a corner was just off the mark on the other.

Levitsky finished the game with four saves and picked up his first shutout of the season, while freshman Brett Bascom (New London, NJ) made four stops for the Pride in a losing effort.

The Rams return to conference action on Saturday as they host MCLA at 4 p.m., while the Pride hosts Clark on Saturday at 12 p.m.