Falcons Clipped By Lancers In MASCAC Action

Teixeira nets first collegiate tally for Green and Gold 

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State men's soccer team suffered a tough 2-1 setback to the Lancers of Worcester State this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from Elliot Field

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 1, Worcester State 2

Records: Fitchburg State (0-6-1, 0-1-1 MASCAC) | Worcester State (4-2-2, 2-0-0 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Fitchburg State nearly took the lead 15 minutes into the opening frame as freshman Brandon Gonzalez (Marlborough, Mass.) and classmate Liam Evans (Marshfield, Mass.) put shots on target, but Lancers keeper Dylan Ruberti (Westborough, Mass.) denied both shot to preserve the 0-0 stalemate going into the break.

Following the intermission, the Falcons threatened in the 53rd minute of play with newcomer Juan Sambrano (Leominster, Mass.) fired a shot from in front of the net, only to have Ruberti turn the shot aside.

Worcester State best opportunity of the second half occurred at the 61:17 mark when sophomore Jemal Mohamud (Worcester, Mass.) rifled a shot on frame, but Falcon goalkeeper Collin Robson (North Billerica, Mass.) made the save to keep the contest scoreless.

The Green and Gold dented the scoreboard in the 67th minute as sophomore Gabriel Teixeira (Lunenburg, Mass.) converted a penalty kick as his shot deflected off the far post and into the back of the net for his first collegiate goal to make the score 1-0.

The Lancers knotted the score (1-1) four minutes later with freshman Taylor Gavaletz (Dudley, Mass.) feed a pass to graduate student Alexander Papageorgiou (Tewksbury, Mass.) and deposited a shot into the left side of the net for his second tally on the year.

Worcester State secured the victory with 30 second remaining in regulation when freshman Manny Perez-Adler (Heppenheim, Germany) struck for his first collegiate mark off an assist from classmate Brady Iovanni (Lunenburg, Mass.), resulting in the 2-1 final.

Inside the Numbers

• This evening's contest marked the 44th meeting between the two teams on the pitch with the Falcons 15-26-2 all-time when taking on the Lancers
• Worcester State held a narrow 17-16 margin in shots, while finishing with a 6-3 edge in corner kicks
• Robson stopped seven shots for the Falcons
• Ruberti made eight saves for the Lancers
• Gabriel Teixeira (Lunenburg, Mass.) notched his first college goal for the Green and Gold

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Tuesday as they host the Gators of Sage College for a non-conference tilt, starting at 6:00 PM. Lancers will travel to Curry College on Wednesday for a non-conference matchup at 7:00 PM.