Worcester, MA --- Senior Derek Alves (Ludlow, MA) netted two goals – including the game-winner – to help lead Worcester State to a 5-2 triumph over UMass Dartmouth in non-conference men's soccer action this evening at Coughlin Field.
Despite holding the 11-7 margin in shots in the first half, Worcester State couldn't find the back of the net.
UMass Dartmouth, on the other hand took advantage and ended the opening frame with the 1-0 edge after senior Victor Ferreira (St. Michael, Portugal) netted team-best 10th marker of the season. Ferreira scored on a breakaway from the right side after a nice pass by junior Ryland Foster-Gorbach (W. Roxbury, MA) in the 17th minute.
After failing to convert on a penalty kick early on in the second half, the Lancers eventually knotted up the score in the 57th minute after a great finish by senior Eugene Duah (Worcester, MA/Burncoat). Senior Brian Cormier (Hudson, MA) sent a long pass on the far side of the field to senior Brendan Whitson (Auburn, MA) before Duah took Whitson's bid home for his first marker of the campaign.
The hosts then grabbed the 2-1 advantage just 50 ticks later when Alves finished a rebound following a spectacular save by freshman Andrew Deane (Woburn, MA) on the right side of the net by senior Alex Wolfel (Unionville, CT).
In the 69th minute, Alves potted the eventual match clincher for his fourth tally of the campaign. Senior Jake Denver (E. Longmeadow, MA) lofted a free kick at midfield that Alves headed into the net just out of the reach of Deane for the two-goal margin.
The Corsairs got themselves back into the game by making it a 3-2 contest in the 75th minute. Junior Mike Diogo (Bristol, RI) connected on his second marker of the year from the left side of the net following a beautiful pass from the near side 35 yard-line by senior Adam Philbin (Cumberland, RI).
But the Lancers put the game out of reach with two late goals and used a stout defensive effort to limit UMD to just three shots the rest of the way.
Whitson chipped in his squad-best 11th tally of the season in the 77th minute on a penalty kick and sophomore Alex Goncalves (Ludlow, MA) added his first goal of the campaign on a breakaway with just under five minutes left in regulation.
Worcester State finished with the 27-16 lead in shots (16-6 on goal) and the 7-2 lead in corners.
Deane turned aside 11 shots for the visitors while second-year Nick Zucco (Ludlow, MA) registered four saves in the win for the Lancers.
Cormier, Denver, Wolfel, Whitson, Phil Cepeda (Southbridge, MA) and Dan Goodine (Dracut, MA) were all honored in a brief pre-game ceremony for playing in their final home regular-season contest on "Senior Night."
Whitson now ties for the MASCAC lead in goals and he has the outright margin in points with 25.
Both squads will wrap up their regular season schedule with conference games on the road. The Blue and Gold head north to Fitchburg State for a 10 AM meeting while UMass Dartmouth travels south to Western Connecticut for a 1 o'clock matchup.
