Springfield Blanks Men’s Soccer in Home Finale

BOSTON – The Suffolk men's soccer team could not overcome a 3-0 half-time deficit as the Rams fell to Springfield, 4-0, in their home finale at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park Monday night. 

Suffolk slipped to 1-13-1 with the loss while Springfield extended its unbeaten streak to five straight, improving to 11-2-1 with the victory. 

The Pride did not use much time to get on the  as Wayne Belcher put the visitors on the board just 1:15 into action. Belcher, who was front and center of Suffolk's goal, was feed from the left by Taylor Gilfoy and snuck the ball into the upper hand corner to net what would prove to be the game-winner. 

In the 24th minute Springfield doubled its lead. Nick Kobel threw in a rocket to a pack of players and the cleat of Nick Fontana connected just right to make it 2-0 in favor of the Pride. 

Luke Alvaro scored with just 36 seconds remaining in the half for his team-leading 11th goal of the season after a feed up the right side by Brad Deckel to send Sufflk into the locker rooms down 3-0. 

After a back-and-forth second stanza  with neither team really capitalizing on its opportunities the score looked to stay the same until the clock was under three minutes in regulation. Alex Haji was determined to score and he did for Springfield's finally tally of the night with just 2:46 to go. Haji connected with Danny Murphy for the 4-0 final. 

Nicholas Chamma, who was honored prior to the kick-off for this stellar career in blue-and-gold as he took the pitch in his home uniform for the final time, picked up three saves in the setback. The senior now has 369 career saves to his credit in 59 appearances and over 5000 minutes played in his four-year career. David Haines also saw action in net for Suffolk also making three stops. 

Springfield used goaltenders Zach Richard and Stewart Frank to combine for the Pride's eighth shutout of the season with each making a pair of saves. The visitors controlled the majority of action and held a 24-9 advantage in shots, including 12 on target. 

Suffolk will head out on the road to conclude its season. The first stop for the Rams is New Haven, Connecticut Wednesday, Oct. 21 for a 5:30 p.m. GNAC contest.