Fitchburg State Edges Mass. Maritime 1-0 in MASCAC Battle
In a tightly contested match at Clean Harbors Stadium in Buzzards Bay, Fitchburg State University’s men’s soccer team claimed a 1-0 victory over the Mass. Maritime Academy Buccaneers in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action. The victory marked an important conference win for the Falcons, improving their record to 6-6-2 overall and 1-2-1 in MASCAC play. The Buccaneers dropped to 2-9-0 on the season, with a 1-3-0 conference record.
The game started with both teams testing each other early. Mass. Maritime had the first real chance of the match just six minutes into the game when sophomore Brody Calvert from Windsor, MA, put a shot on goal. However, Fitchburg State’s senior goalkeeper, Luke Speers (Collegeville, PA), was ul to the task, making a key save to keep the score level. Fitchburg State struggled to break through Mass. Maritime’s defense in the first half but had a promising opportunity in the 36th minute. Freshman Jovan Ssebugwawo (Templeton, MA) unleashed a shot on target, but Buccaneers goalkeeper Kaden Winter (Walpole, MA) made a fine stop to keep the game scoreless heading into halftime. Despite both teams showing flashes of offensive momentum, the first half ended 0-0, with neither side able to capitalize on their chances.
After the intermission, the Falcons came out determined to break the deadlock, and they found the breakthrough in the 68th minute. Fitchburg State sophomore Anthony Oliveira-Dalicandro (Waltham, MA) latched onto a well-placed pass from newcomer Justin Job (Worcester, MA) and slotted the ball into the right side of the net. The goal, Oliveira-Dalicandro’s team leading fifth of the season, gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead they would not relinquish. As the game progressed, Mass. Maritime pushed for an equalizer. Their best chance came in the 84th minute when junior Harry Cooley (Marshfield, MA) fired a shot that just missed the target, sailing wide left of the goal. The Buccaneers’ pressure continued, but the Fitchburg State defense stood strong, with Speers remaining solid in goal, preserving the shutout. The Falcons held on for the hard-fought 1-0 win, securing their first conference victory of the season.
This matchup marked the 47th meeting between the two teams, with Fitchburg State now holding a 26-12-9 record all-time against the Buccaneers. The Falcons had a slight edge in shots, finishing with a 13-11 advantage, and held a 2-1 lead in corner kicks. Speers only needed to make one save, but it was a crucial stop early in the game to keep the clean sheet and give him his second win of the season. On the other side, Buccaneers goalkeeper Kaden Winter was busier, making seven saves to keep his team in the contest.
The win is a momentum boost for Fitchburg State as they aim to climb the MASCAC standings. With a balanced attack and solid defense, the Falcons will look to build on this victory as they continue their conference campaign—meanwhile, Mass. Maritime will try to bounce back from this narrow defeat and find their form in their upcoming matches.
