Isaac Bean
Sports Editor
It has been an incredible start to the season for the men’s soccer team. The Anchormen have opened the season with an impressive 4-0 record.
The first game of the season ended up being a big win for the Anchormen as they bested the University of Maine-Farmington Beavers. Cody Granville had the honor of scoring the first goal of the season. This gave the Anchormen a 1-0 lead in the first half of the game. The second half saw midfielder Anothony Recinos score a huge goal to extend the lead to 2-0. The Beavers then responded with a penalty kick goal by Mohamed Adow to make the game 2-1. RIC quickly responded with their own penalty kick goal. Forward Jonathan Oliveira made the penalty kick to make the lead go to 3-1. With only four minutes left in the game, the Anchormen were able to hold on to the lead and win 3-1.
The second game of the year was against the Nichols College Bison. This game was a defensive battle for the first half. As both teams were without a goal heading into halftime, junior goalkeeper Wesley Perrotto was outstanding in net, having a total of four saves in the first half. Coming out of the second half, the Bison ended up taking a 1-0 lead from a penalty kick by William Savage. That lead would not be long, however. Oliveira would score just three minutes after the Bison took the lead. With a tied game late into the second half, Oliviera would score another goal to give the Anchormen a 2-1 lead. The team would end up holding on to the lead and win their second game of the year.
The Men’s Soccer team then took on the Roger Williams University Hawks in a thrilling game. The Anchormen got off to a fast start in the first half, scoring not one, but two first half goals. The first goal of the game was scored by Oliviera, who is on an incredible three game goal streak. The next goal was scored by senior midfielder Joseph Scolaro. Coming out of the second half, the Hawks would respond with a goal by CJ Sousa. Fifteen minutes later, Oliviera would score another goal to give RIC a 3-1 lead. This was Oliviera’s fifth goal in just three games. The Hawks would quickly respond however. Liam Blaisdell would score a goal with a little over ten minutes left in the game. With the lead 3-2 late in the game, Tariq Adio would score one more insurance goal to extend the Anchormen’s lead to 4-2. The Anchormen would hold on to this lead, giving them their third win of the season. Junior goalkeeper Jake Reed would get his second win of the season in front of the net. Reed recorded an impressive six saves in this game while having fourteen on the season.
The win streak would continue as the Anchormen beat the Fitchburg State Falcons by a score of 3-1. This game was a tale of two halves, during which the first half saw all the scoring. Just seven minutes into the game, junior midfielder Jesus Guarcas would score a goal to give RIC an early 1-0 lead. The Falcons would then respond, as Edwin Daramy would score a goal to make the game 1-1. Recinos would score his second goal of the season to give the Anchormen a 2-1 lead. This goal was then followed by another goal just two minutes after by forward Braeden Cannon. With a 3-1 lead going into half time, the Anchormen would rely on their goalkeeper to close the game. Perrotto would let nothing past him in the second half. Perrotto would make three saves, giving him his second victory of the season in front of the net.
The Men’s soccer team looks to continue their undefeated season this coming Tuesday. The Anchormen will take on Wheaton College at home and look to be 5-0 on the season.