Men's Soccer Set to Kick Off 2022 Season

DARTMOUTH, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth men's soccer team kicks off its season on Thursday at 7 p.m. against Framingham State. The team made it back to the Little East Conference (LEC) Tournament for the first time since 2013 and brings a roster of one graduate student, two seniors, 11 juniors, four sophomores and 12 freshmen into 2022. Head Coach Jason Burnett returns for his second year after guiding the team to a 7-7-2 record (3-4-1 LEC) and a spot in the postseason.

The Corsairs got off to a fast start in 2021. After dropping its first game at Salem State, UMassD rattled off a five-game unbeaten streak with four wins over that time. Key victories included Salve Regina (1-0), Plymouth State (1-0 OT), Southern Maine (1-0) and Castleton (3-2). The team also had hard-fought scoreless draws against Saint Joseph and Keene State.

Back on the pitch this season is leading goal-scorer sophomore Lucas Passaro, who finished the 2021 with three goals and two assists for eight points. Other notable returners on the offensive end include sophomores Jacob Murphy (2 goals) and Cameron Jacob (1 goal), and junior Brandon Araujo.

Mostly new faces will fill out the defense with the exception of 5th-year senior Gabe DeOliveira and junior Jacob Harper. Juniors Anthony Buttafoco and Jack Waterhouse are back in goal to replace All-Conference netminder Jake Castro.

A large group of transfers joins the squad. They are grad student Denser Martinez (Eastern Nazarene), juniors Keven Lopes (Bristol CC), Andrew Pacheco (Roger Williams) and Kyle Rhines (Northland College), and freshman Jake Provoyeur (Bridgewater State).

A group of 12 total freshmen will add depth to the roster as the team looks to make a return to the LEC Tournament.

Following Thursday's game against Framingham State, the Corsairs are on the road for back-to-back games against Roger Williams (Sept. 3) and Salve Regina (Sept. 7). Salem State then comes to town (Sept. 10) for the teams' alumni event, and there is one more road contest at Saint Joseph (Sept. 14) before LEC play begins at Plymouth State (Sept. 17).