Vang mails in two as mens soccer blows out VTSU Castleton on Senior Day, 6-2

Tim Yean

Managing Editor

(PROVIDENCE, R.I.) – Goals galore came through an Oct. 24 afternoon at Alumni Stadium, mostly for the Anchormen, as they pounded Vermont State University Castleton, 6-2, on Senior Day.

Second-year midfielder Randy Vang entered a third of the Anchormen’s output with two goals on the afternoon. Third-year midfielder Joe Kelly and first-years Donovan Calle and Jackson Pelland each ushered in another three goals.

Fourth-year Joseph Flood punched in his second career goal in the 86th minute to aid in the four-goal victory and put an exclamation point on both the match and his Anchormen career.

Joseph Flood surrounded by his Anchormen teammates following his second career goal. (Photo by author)

“It was huge,” Flood said postgame. “We really needed the win because we’re trying to get second place in the conference, so it was an important win to get that second-place spot.”

RIC entered the special contest even on all fronts, a 5-5-5 record made in part most recently by a 2-0 loss at Bridgewater State University on Oct. 21. Vermont State Castleton had just three wins on the season entering the contest, and were 1-5 in the Little East Conference in their final campaign as part of the 40-year association as they will depart the conference at the end of the spring semester.

Five seniors were honored for RIC prior to the match: midfielders Flood, Donovan Battle and captain Alijah Nunes, defender and fellow captain Jackson Fox and goalkeeper Elhadji Ndoye.

After an aggressive opening 10 minutes from the visitors with three shots by Castleton, RIC reformed and harassed the Spartan defensive front the rest of the half, firing 13 attempts at third-year goalkeeper Xander Berthiaume. Vang would connect in the 11th minute on a solo play, and would contribute again 30 minutes later on an assist to Joe Kelly’s goal to end the half on a 2-0 lead.

About three minutes into the second half, the visitors would make it interesting, as first-year midfielder Owen Hackett would nail his first career goal on a free kick that flew just by RIC’s Ndoye to cut the deficit to one. 

The Anchormen's response was prolonged, but when it came, it came swiftly. Rifling in goals from Randy Vang and Donovan Calle in the 59th- and 62nd-minute strikes, respectively, RIC rebuilt their lead and added some to take their lead to a trio of goals.

The last glimpse of offense for Castleton came off second-year defender Junior Careira’s airmail to a wide-open first-year midfielder/defender Matt Lurie, who won a 1v1 duel with Elhadji Ndoye and clipped in the squad’s second goal of the afternoon.

Again for RIC, the response came with a wait time, but popped in nature. Jackson Pelland would drive in a shot assisted by second-year midfielder and captain Julian Orellana in the 79th minute. Six minutes later, Joseph Flood slammed the door with a cross shot to the net, moments later being swarmed by his teammates in celebration.

The Anchormen have one more regular-season match, an away scrum against Eastern Connecticut State on Oct. 28. A win over the Warriors in Willimantic, Connecticut, would shore up their odds of obtaining a bye and a much-welcomed home playoff game.