Men's Soccer Breaks into Win Column with 2-1 Victory over Rhode Island College
Providence, R.I. - The Framingham State University men's soccer team broke into the win column this evening with a 2-1 road victory over Rhode Island College in non-conference action at the RIC Soccer Field.
RIC forward Jose Zarraga's (Providence, R.I.) tied the game with a goal in the 65th, but the Rams were able to tally the game winner down the stretch.
Rhode Island College (5-2-2) sees its four-game winning streak come to an end with the loss, while Framingham State (1-7) tallies its first victory of the season with the upset of the Anchormen.
The Rams drew first blood in the 16th minute when junior defender Nicholas Cotter (Sandwich, Mass.) stole the ball away from a RIC defender and launched a deep shot from outside the top left corner of the box. Cotter's ball sailed towards freshman goalkeeper Chris Moura (Rumford, RI), who was staring directly into the setting sun, and slipped over his right shoulder to give the visitors the early lead.
The hosts had a chance to respond with the game-tying tally in the 23rd minute, when freshman midfielder Anderson Monteiro (Pawtucket, RI) broke into the box and chipped a shot from the left side towards junior goalkeeper Kiko Anzoategui (Peabody, Mass.). Monteiro's ball skipped past Anzoategui, but then ricocheted off the far post and was immediately cleared out by the Rams.
After a long stretch of scoreless action, Zarraga knotted the score at one midway through the second half. The action began when sophomore midfielder Camilo Estrada (Pawtucket, RI) beat an FSU defender at midfield and broke free down the right sideline after winning the one-on-one battle. Using his breakaway speed, Estrada stormed all the way down the field to the far right side of the box uncontested and sent a perfect cross to Zarraga in front of the net. Zarraga gathered the feed and chipped a quick shot past Anzoategui for his fourth goal of the season.
Framingham State answered back in the 79th minute with what would prove to be the game-winning score after an RIC foul gave the Rams a straightaway free kick from about 25 yards out. Junior midfielder Bryan DaSilva's (Milford, Mass.) blast slammed off the crossbar and straight down into the box, where the ball was quickly headed in for a score by freshman midfielder Gil Mendes (Framingham, Mass.) making it, 2-1.
The Anchormen had one final look in the closing seconds of the ballgame. Trailing by a goal, junior defender Jeff Sampaio (West Warwick, RI) fired a clean shot from inside the box with just two seconds left on the clock after breaking through a cluster of Framingham defenders, but was halted by Anzoategui to end the game.
RIC outshot FSU, 23-16, on the night, including a 15-7 margin in the second half. The Anchormen also held a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Anzoategui (1-4) made seven saves in the win, while Moura (4-2-2) stopped six shots in a losing effort.
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will resume Little East Conference action at Western Connecticut on Saturday, Sept. 28, while the Rams host Worcester State in MASCAC action on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Release courtesy of RIC Sports Information.