BOSTON, Mass. –The Eastern Connecticut State University men's soccer team edged the University of Massachusetts Boston by one point in the 2021 Little East Conference pre-season coaches poll conducted three weeks ago.
Saturday, in an early-season matchup of the two LEC favorites, the Warriors edged the Beacons by one goal in the conference opener for both programs at James Cotter Field on the campus of BC High.
Senior midfielder
Larson Richards' (Mansfield) first career goal in the first half proved to be the difference, as did the goaltending wizardry of sophomore
Dylan Pallanck (Mansfield), who has yet to give up a goal against a New England opponent, stretching his season streak to 327 minutes, 44 seconds in four starts against regional opponents.
Eastern (4-2-0) was outshot, 18-5, but Pallanck made a career-high eight saves to record his second career full shutout (he has shared three others) in eight career starts – first in six starts this year.
The Warriors improved their record in road games against UMass Boston (3-2-0) to 9-1-2 the last 12 times the teams have met, and took a 3-2 advantage in matches decided by a score of 1-0 in this all-time series.
UMass Boston dominated the chances --especially in the second half -- but couldn't find a way past Richards and Pallanck.
Pallanck lowered his season goals-against average to 0.74 and improved his season save percentage to .826 and Richards came up with several key interceptions and pass break-ups to help the Warriors hand the Beacons' their first home defeat of the season.
UMass Boston freshman goalie JJ Devine made three saves on four shots.
Richards opened (and closed) the scoring at 18:05. Eastern earned a throw-in along the near side and senior defender
David Noel (Armonk, NY) found the feet of first-year junior transfer
Eddy Vargas (Norwalk), who pushed the ball back toward midfield for Richards. The Central Connecticut State University transfer took one touch and then launched a high-arching right-footed shot – his only shot of the match and only eighth in six matches this year -- that went just over Devine's fingertips and in from 47-yards out.
UMass Boston began to grow into the game over the final 15 minutes of the half and had a tremendous opportunity to tie the game in the 43
rd minute. Sophomore Denilson Goncalves forced a turnover at midfield and ran in one-on-one with the keeper. He managed to dribble past the goalie but his shot went just wide of the post as a defender got back to pressure his shot.
The Beacons came up with their first good chance of the second half – when they outshot the Warriors, 11-2 -- in the 58
th minute. Junior Riven Rodrigues collected a long pass inside the box with his first touch, but his left-footed shot went over the bar.
Beacons senior Nilton de Andrade collected the ball in space in the 70
th minute, but his shot from distance bounced just wide of the far post.
The Beacons had their best chance to tie the game in the 71
st minute. Kudi Onyejose got on to the end of a Gerardo Castaneda corner kick, but his header hit the crossbar square on. The rebound bounced out to de Andrade, but his header went wide of the near post.
Minutes later, de Andrade was tripped up in the box minutes later, play continued without a foul called or card handed out.
UMass Boston pinned the Warriors back in their own half for the final 20 minutes, but they couldn't manage to find a tying goal.
In this year's LEC pre-season poll, No. 1 Eastern and No. 2 UMB were separated by only one point, each receiving four first-place votes. Eastern has won the last two LEC regular-season championships (2018-19) and has won or shared six of the last nine LEC regular-season titles. UMass has won or shared regular-season crowns in 2014 and 2016.
The win is the first away from home (when they are 3-0-0) – and is the team's third straight shutout -- for the Warriors, who were shut out on Labor Day weekend by nationally-ranked teams Franklin & Marshall College and Messiah College.
UMass Boston Sports Information contributed to this game account.
