WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State first-year midfielder Paul Whalley (Southwick, Mass.) scored the lone goal of the match with 4:07 remaining in the game to propel the Owls to a 1-0 victory over Fitchburg State in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference game on Saturday afternoon as part of Homecoming Weekend.
The Owls improve to 4-1 in conference play and advance to 5-6-1 on the season. The Falcons drop to 1-3-1 in the league and 3-9-2 overall.
Westfield was awarded a free kick from just inside the 30-yard line where Ryan Denehy (Littleton, Mass.) served a pass into the middle of the box to Whalley who beat Falcons goalkeeper Luke Speers (Collegeville, Penn.) to the ball, then headed a shot over the keeper to give Westfield a late 1-0 lead.
Both teams had solid scoring opportunities prior to the Owls goal. Whalley nearly found the back of the net in the first half on a free kick from just outside the box, with the shot hitting off the crossbar, bouncing downward, and then staying out of the net.
Fitchburg mounted waves of pressure on the Owls defense throughout the contest, including a pair of point-blank chances inside the 55th minute. Kaio Fialho (Worcester, Mass.) delivered a dangerous ball into the center of the box where Nathan Youngquest (Lowell, Mass.) fired a strike towards the net that was headed out of danger by Charlie Anischik (South Hadley, Mass.). Had he not stopped it, the Falcons would have scored the first goal in the contest.
Another strong scoring opportunity presented itself moments later as a rocket from Anthony Oliveira-Dalicandro (Waltham, Mass.) was denied on a diving effort from Owls keeper Luke Theroux (Chicopee, Mass.), punching the ball away from the net. Overall, it was a critical moment in the game where the Owls managed to hold the Falcons off the scoreboard, setting up the Whalley tally on what was a memorable and emotional day on Alumni Field.
As part of Homecoming Weekend, the Owls honored the passing of former head coach John Evans who was remembered before the game with a moment of silence followed by a special halftime presentation featuring former head and assistant coaches' Elia Del Molino, Paul Whalley, and Kevin Bangel. The Owls also welcomed Coach Evan's wife, Elena, to the field, escorted by Westfield State University President Dr. Linda Thompson. Both Elia, Elena, and current men's soccer player Coleby Andrade (Falmouth, Mass.), who was a former player for Evans, shared some words.
The Falcons outshot the Owls 24-13 and held the advantage in shots on goal (7-4). Theroux (W, 5-5) registered six saves for his second shutout of the year. Speers collected three saves.
Westfield State will travel to Vermont State Castleton for their next match on Monday at 4:00 P.M.
