EASTON, Mass. - Stonehill College (3-7-1) secured a crucial 1-0 victory over New Haven (4-4-3) in NCAA Division II soccer action on Thursday afternoon at W.B. Mason Stadium. Shane Fonseca's sixth-minute goal proved to be the difference in a tightly contested match before a crowd of 312 spectators.
The decisive moment came in the 6th minute when Shane Fonseca found the back of the net with a low right-footed strike, assisted by Owen Burke. Despite numerous opportunities for both sides throughout the remaining 84 minutes, Fonseca's early goal would stand as the match-winner.
The first half saw Stonehill assert early dominance, with Owen Burke testing the New Haven defense in the 3rd minute with a shot that sailed high. Nathan Lagoa and Chris Hines both created dangerous opportunities, while New Haven's Luke Fiscella and Joao Pires responded with blocked shots in the 14th and 15th minutes respectively. The home side maintained pressure through Nate Monteiro and James Forrest-Hay, who both registered shots before the break.
New Haven emerged with renewed energy after halftime, with Guilherme Meira forcing two saves in quick succession around the 53rd minute. The match intensified as five yellow cards were shown in the second half - three to New Haven (Andres Lazo, Valerio Del Mastro, and Jacopo Suagher) and two to Stonehill (Nathan Lagoa and Terence O'Neill). Despite increased pressure from the visitors, including late efforts from Andrew Buchanan and Mathew Salinas, Stonehill's defense held firm.
The final statistics reflected the match's competitive nature, with Stonehill recording 20 shot attempts to New Haven's 16. Both teams managed five shots on target, while the home side held a slight 5-4 advantage in corner kicks. The physical nature of the contest was evident in the card count, with five yellows distributed between the teams.
Several players stood out individually, particularly Stonehill's Shane Fonseca, who not only scored the winner but registered four total shots. Owen Burke's creative influence was evident throughout, while Jared Rapoza provided crucial defensive stability in the second half. For New Haven, Luke Fiscella showed persistence with three shot attempts, while Guilherme Meira created several dangerous opportunities in the final third.
Tactically, Stonehill's early pressure proved effective, forcing New Haven to adjust their approach. The visitors' response included strategic substitutions, with Tommaso Illario and Thomas Oros entering in the 63rd minute to provide fresh attacking impetus. However, Stonehill's defensive organization, particularly after the introduction of Colin Hargraves late in the match, helped preserve the clean sheet.
The victory marks a significant turnaround for Stonehill, who entered the match with just two wins in their previous ten games. For New Haven, the loss extends their winless streak to two matches, following a defeat to Yale earlier in the week. The result demonstrates Stonehill's ability to execute in crucial moments while highlighting New Haven's struggles to convert chances into goals.
Looking ahead, Stonehill will aim to build on this momentum when they travel to Mercyhurst for their next fixture on October 12, while New Haven has a week to regroup before visiting Saint Francis on October 16. The match served as a reminder of the fine margins in college soccer, where a single early goal can determine the outcome of an otherwise evenly matched contest.