Box Score DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Western Connecticut State University sophomore Aislan Sartori (Danbury, Conn.) headed in the game-winning goal in the 75th minute to lift the visiting Colonials to a 2-1 Little East Conference victory over the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth this afternoon in a NCAA Division III men's soccer match played on a rain-soaked Cressy Field.
Western Connecticut raised its record to 7-10-2 and 2-5 in the conference circuit, while the Corsairs closed their campaign with a 7-10-1 and 2-4-1 against Little East opponents.
Junior Phil Dagostino (New Fairfield, Conn.) snapped a scoreless tie in the 53rd minute, when he demonstrated some crafty footwork to break behind the UMass Dartmouth backline. Dagostino beat the charging Corsair keeper inside the far, left post for his seventh goal of the season.
UMass Dartmouth responded in the 69th minute, capitalizing on a Colonial defensive miscue. Western Connecticut was carded for a hand ball that provided the hosts with a free kick from approximately 35 yards out. Senior Alex Machado (New Bedford, Mass.) skipped the restart off the slick turf and received a friendly bounce over the keeper's head into the back of the net. It was his fifth marker of the campaign.
The Colonials regained their advantage in the 75th minute, converting a set piece from just inside the midfield stripe. Freshman Ryan Hopley (Cromwell, Conn.) served the free kick into the 18-yard box, and Sartori was able to head past the hosts' backline.
Freshman Austin Tierney (East Hampton, Conn.) made five saves to earn the win, while his counterpart, sophomore Luis Carranza (New Bedford, Mass.), turned aside one attempt in the loss.
In an evenly-played match, both teams registered 12 shots and four corner kick opportunities.
Prior to the start of the match, UMass Dartmouth honored its five seniors—Gustavo Dos Santos (Juiz de Fora, Brazil), Ryland Foster-Gorbach (West Roxbury, Mass.), Josh Chao (New Bedford, Mass.), JB Macaroco (New Bedford, Mass.), and Machado—who were playing in their final contest at Cressy Field.
