Fitchburg State Stuns WPI, 4-3 (2OT)

Ventura tallies team-leading sixth marker of the season to lift Falcons to 2OT victory

FITCHBURG, Mass. (October 14, 2010) – The Fitchburg State men's soccer team registered its second consecutive victory, rallying back to defeat WPI, 4-3 in double overtime action at Elliot Field this evening.

LIONSO VENTURA

Senior Lionso Ventura (Westminster, Mass./Oakmont) lifted the Falcons to their third victory of the season, posting his team-leading sixth goal of the season in dramatic fashion. On an ensuing free kick early in the second overtime, Ventura collected a loose-ball off his initial kick and beat the Engineers' goalkeeper for the eventual game-winner.

WPI jumped out to an early lead midway through the first half as sophomore Steve Patridge (Worcester, Mass./Wachusett Regional) connected for his first goal of the season off an assist from junior Kevin Ducharme (Bedford, N.H./Manchester West). The resilient Falcons bounced back late in the period as senior Matthew Da Fonte (Norwood, Mass./Norwood) registered his first tally of the season in the 44th minute. Da Fonte took a feed from freshman Chris Kleindl (Tokyo, Japan/American School) and fired it from the right channel to even the game at 1-1 heading into the break.

In an action packed second half which witness four goals in the frame, WPI grabbed a quick 3-1 advantage using a pair of markers from senior Mike Ford (Whitman, Mass./Whitman Hanson) and sophomore Jason Hopkins (Mendon, Mass./Nipmuc Regional). The Engineers opened their scoring early, as Ford found Alex Ivanov (Carlisle, Mass./Concord-Carlisle) off his mark and headed the ball up and over for a one goal edge. Hopkins followed suit roughly 15 minutes later, using another header for a two goal lead.

Fitchburg State notched its second comeback of the contest late in the period, posting two goals over a 1:33 span to knot the score a 3-3 and force extra time. Senior Robbie Pacini (Stoneham, Mass./Stoneham) brought Fitchburg State with in one (3-2) with his second tally of the season, while Keith Yoshizumi (Stoneham, Mass./Stoneham) netted the equalizer in the 88th minute for his first goal of the year.

In the extra period, Fitchburg State threatened first, drawing Engineer keeper Paul Moan (Watertown, Mass./Watertown) out of the box just four minutes into the period. Falcon junior Danny Bolam (East Fairfield, Vt./BFA Airfax) had a chance to clinch the contest with a strike from 20 yards out, but his attempt sailed just high to keep the score locked a 3-3.

In the second overtime period, Fitchburg State notched the lone shot of the stanza, clinching the contest on Ventura's heroics. WPI held a 28-23 advantage in shots throughout the game, while the Falcons grabbed a slim 5-4 margin in corner kicks. Between the pipes, Ivanov finished with a  game-high 13 stops, posting a complete game victory for Fitchburg State, while Moan collected nine saves for the Engineers.

Fitchburg State (3-9-0, 1-3-0 MASCAC) will be in action again on Saturday as it hosts MCLA at 2 p.m. WPI (4-6-1, 0-2-1 NEWMAC) will visit Wheaton College on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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Fitchburg State 4, WPI 3 (2OT)

Scoring:
1st Half: WPI: Steve Partridge (Kevin Ducharme), 25:20; FIT: Matthew Da Fonte (Chris Kleindl), 43:16;
2nd Half: WPI: Mike Ford (Thomas Cucinotta), 63:48; WPI: Jason Hopkins, 80:10; FIT: Robbie Pacini (Chris Kleindl), 85:30; FIT: Keith Yoshizumi, 87:03;
OT: none
2OT: FIT: Lionso Ventura, 102:10;
Goalkeeping: FIT: Alex Ivanov (102:10), 13 saves; WPI: Paul Moan (102:10), nine saves;
Shots: FIT: 23; WPI: 28