Action-Packed Season Opener Ends in 5-5 Draw

DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Behind a high-energy Cressy Field crowd, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth men's soccer team erased a 3-1 deficit to come back and finish in a 5-5 draw Thursday night in the home opener.
 
Both teams begin the season with an 0-0-1 record.
 
Sophomore Cameron Jacob netted two goals for the Corsairs, while classmate Lucas Passaro along with freshmen Anthony Canuto and Jacob Holland each found the back of the net once. Scoring for Framingham was junior Jeffson Malachie, and freshman Gutstav Hemmingsen and senior Anthony Nardizi twice respectively.
 
Framingham State held a 24-17 advantage in shots 10-8 on goal, while UMass Dartmouth won the corner kick battle, 6-2.
 
It only took until the second minute for the Corsairs to get on the board. Grad student Denser Martinez sent a corner kick to Passaro for the 1-0 lead. The Rams then rattled off a flurry of goals in the sixth, 12th and 25th minutes to take a 3-1 advantage in the first half.
 
UMass Dartmouth evened the score before the halftime horn. Canuto found a seam to the back of the net off assists from Martinez and junior Joey Paiva in the 36th minute. Jacob sent home his first goal of night in the 43rd minute with helpers from junior Kyle Rhines and Paiva to make it a 3-3 game at the break.
 
The teams went back-and-forth in the second half. Jacob got it started with a 52nd minute goal from sophomore Cam Aguiar to go up 4-3. Framingham evened the score in the 63rd minute, and Holland put the Corsairs back on top, 5-4, in the 69th minute off assists from Paiva and Rhines.
 
Framingham State tied the score for good at five in the 83rd minute. Junior goalkeeper Anthony Buttafoco made clutch saves down the stretch to preserve the draw.
 
Paiva finished with three assists, while Martinez and Rhines each had two and Aguiar had one helper. There were eight total yellow cards in the game and 28 fouls between the teams.
 
UMass Dartmouth is on the road next at Roger Williams on Saturday at 1 p.m.