By Contributing Writer Max Dean White
The men’s soccer team suffered its 3rd loss of the season with a close, 2-1 defeat against Fitchburg State on Wednesday.
The Corsairs entered the game looking to bounce back from last game’s loss, in which they suffered their first loss of the season, while Fitchburg was looking to win its first game in nearly two weeks.
The Corsairs started this year’s season in an impressive fashion; winning each of their first 4 games, before taking their first loss, last week in a 4-1 rout at Eastern Connecticut.
Leading up to the game, fans of both teams were hopeful for a win that would end their respective losing streak. While Fitchburg State hosted its second game of the season, the Corsairs played their second consecutive away game, where they have a history of playing less effectively in past seasons.
The first half demonstrated a strong defense from both teams, since only 3 total shots on goal were attempted, as the offenses struggled to take a lead.With no penalties committed and few breakaways by either side, the first half mostly uneventful.
After a scoreless first half, UMass Dartmouth junior Yorik Sajbin (junior) scored for the Corsairs, giving them a 1-0 lead, 5 minutes after intermission with his third goal of the season. The Corsairs managed to hold onto their lead for only 20 minutes; when Framingham’s Sean Nuget evened up the scoreboard with a goal of his own, after settling a feed from teammate Raphael Coelho (sophomore).
Fitchburg State gained the lead just 8 minutes later as freshmen Sebastian Pina found junior Gabriel Ramos on the near side of the post and deposited a shot into the back of the net for his first tally for the Green and Gold, resulting in the 2-1 final. The Corsairs nearly tied up the game, after having failed to score a shot made within the last 5 minutes of play, and Rony Morales’ last minute corner kick also proved unsuccessful.
The Corsairs gave up a convincing 1-0 lead within the last 20 minutes of the game, its first time allowing multiple goals in that time frame. This showing is not as bad as last week’s defeat as previously mentioned, but it is disappointing to see the lead be stolen in such a short time period.
In total, there were 9 shots against the Corsair’s goal, with goalkeeper Danny Andrade saving 3 shots, while Fitchburg State’s Sebastian Jaramillio saving 8 shots on goal. The Corsairs finished with 8 corner kicks and had 16 fouls, twice as many as Fitchburg State.
This game demonstrated that while the Corsairs remain undefeated (4-0) on their home turf (Cressy Field), their struggles closing out games on the road continues with this being their third of the year. Perhaps it is the home field that the team needs to finish games, but its collapse during the last 20 minutes is more likely due to just bad luck.
Hopefully, the 4-3-0 Corsairs will end their losing streak in this Saturday’s Little East Conference game against Plymouth State, where the Corsairs host by continuing their successful streak at home.