Falcons Pick Up First Win of Season over Elms, 2-1

FITCHBURG, Mass. - The defending MASCAC champion Fitchburg State University men's soccer team opened up their 2015 home schedule on Wednesday night by defeating Elms College, 2-1 at Elliot Field in a non-conference matchup.

Fitchburg State head coach Werner Thissen, entering his sixth season at the helm for men's soccer, left the field optimistic after the team's first win. "We had a tough weekend the week before. We haven't had our whole team together and I knew that would be a handicap in the first two games" said Thissen, "we just needed to play together and connect the dots."

It wasn't until the 30^th minute of play when senior midfielder Alex Calder took advantage of a penalty kick and drove it to the top of the net to open up the scoring and give the Green and Gold a 1-0 lead for his first goal of the campaign.

After going into the half leading 1-0, the Falcons added an insurance goal in the 57' minute when senior midfielder Franck Wansi found the back of the net on a volley inside the box unassisted for his first of the season.

Wansi's goal proved to be an important one when the Blazers made a late-surge. Colby Macdonald brought Elms to within one with an unassisted goal in the 86^th minute, resulting from a scrum on the right side of the net.

Minutes later, Elms College drove their 11^th corner kick of the game deep into the box in front, but failed to tie up the game as the header went just right of the post.

The Falcon defense finished out the final minutes of action by keping possession and picking up their first win of the season in the process, improving their season record to 1-2-0.

The Green and Gold increased their winning streak against Elms College to four games with an overall record of 4-1-0 dating back to 2006.

Fitchburg State will host Becker College (0-4) on Saturday September 12^th  at noon. The Falcons are 9-2 all-time against Becker and will look to continue the same success, winning a season ago by a final score of 2-0 in Worcester.  Elms College will also be in action on September 12^th hosting New England College.

COURTESY IN PART TO STUDENT JOURNALIST KYLE PRUDHOMME
 

Follow the Falcons on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!