UMass Dartmouth Edge Fitchburg State, 2-1

Ventura scores lone goal in Falcons non-conference loss

FITCHBURG, Mass. (September 10, 2011) – Sophomore Alex Machado (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) converted an indirect kick midway through the second period, propelling the UMass Dartmouth men's soccer team to a 2-1 non-conference victory over Fitchburg State University this afternoon.

UMass Dartmouth took an early 1-0 lead in the first half as sophomore Jonathan Dacosta (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) was awarded a penalty kick after being taken down in the box. Dacosta converted the PK at the 9:56 mark, giving the Corsairs the early edge with his first goal of the season.

Play was chirpy throughout the first half with three cards issued between both squads. UMass Dartmouth found itself playing down a man after inheriting a red card in the 30th minute, but the Corsairs remained settled to keep the Falcons off the scoreboard. UMass came within inches of doubling its lead in the closing seconds, but an indirect kick by Machado was stonewalled by a diving Aidan Hanratty (E. Bridgewater, Mass./E. Bridgewater) to keep the game at 1-0 heading into the break.

In the second half, Fitchburg State knotted the score at 1-1 as senior Lionso Ventura (Westminster, Mass./Oakmont) hit home for his first goal of the season off a  George Sullivan (Milton, Mass./Milton) feed. Sullivan's feed beat the final Corsairs defender, giving Ventura a one and one with the keeper.

Three minutes later, Fitchburg State's goalkeeper was issued a red card, removing him from the contest and setting up a Corsair indirect kick. Machado stepped in for UMass Dartmouth and drilled the go ahead goal past Falcon net-minder Patrick Harper (Southwick, Mass./Southwick-Tolland) for a 2-1 lead. Machado clipped the top right corner of the net for his first goal of the year.

The Falcons did not go quietly however and seemingly had the game-tying goal in hand as Ventura found sophomore Carmen Bordonaro (Saugus, Mass./Saugus) behind the Corsairs defense. An offside call took Bordonaro's goal off the board and preserved the 2-1, Corsair lead. The Falcons threatened down the stretch as well, peppering three consecutive shots on target, but the Corsairs defense stood strong to keep Fitchburg State off the board again.

For the contest, UMass Dartmouth gained a 25-15 advantage in shots and 9-2 margin in corner kicks. Junior John Doucette (Boxford, Mass./Masconomet) started the match in net for the Corsairs, totaled one save over the first 45 minutes, while freshman Tim Walsh (Stow, Mass./Marian) finished the contest with fours tops, Hanratty notched five saves for the Falcons, while Harper tallied three in his debut.

Fitchburg State (0-4, 0-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Thursday as it travels to UMass Boston at 3:30 p.m. UMass Dartmouth (2-1, 0-0 LEC) will host Salem State on Wednesday at 4 p.m.