Men's Soccer Reinaugurates Alumni Field With 4-2 Victory Over UMass Dartmouth

SALEM, Mass. – Salem State men's soccer reinaugurated Alumni Field with a 4-2 victory over UMass Dartmouth on Wednesday afternoon. The Vikings, playing on their brand new turf field, received two goals from Kendy Prince (Medford, Mass.) to pick up their first win of 2021 season.

Joe Fleming and Dave Dabreio from the "class of 1960" and members of the first Salem State men's soccer team took part in a ceremonial coin flip along with Salem State President John Keenan, Vice President of Student Success Nate Bryant, Athletic Director Nicolle Wood and current Salem State men's soccer captains, Orlando Rodrigues, Damon Deocleciano, Joao DeSouza and Lucas Amaral at midfield to commemorate the first game on the new field.   

The two teams played to a scoreless tie in the first half with the Vikings holding a 9-4 edge in shots. Salem State pressured UMass Dartmouth early. A turnover by the Corsairs deep in their zone nearly led to the first goal of the game by Prince. A header by Aaron O'Toole (Quincy, Mass.) in the 30^th minute just missed the net as the Corsairs played most of the first 15 minutes in their own zone.  

Joseph Paiva (Dartmouth, Mass.) headed away a potential score for the Corsairs before nearly giving the visitors the lead as his breakaway shot hit just underneath the crossbar before angling outside the goal line late in the first half.

Cam Downer (Dracut, Mass.) put the Vikings on the board first in the 48^th minute as he beat goalie Jake Castro (Swansea, Mass.) to the ball for a wide-open score. Prince added his first goal for Salem State, beating three defenders after causing a turnover, and redirecting his blocked shot past Castro.

Nilin Nehra (Fall River, Mass.) cut the deficit to one goal, before Prince added his second score of the game in the 62^nd minute. Cody Santo made it a one-score game again for UMass Dartmouth, but Joao DeSouza (Lowell, Mass.) beat the Corsairs' defense and rifled in a shot from 10 yards out as Salem State took control of the game with a 4-2 lead with less than four minutes to play. 

Leith Khan (Shrewsbury, Mass.) picked up his first collegiate win making three saves. Castro stopped six shots in the loss.