UMass Boston Tops Rhode Island College, 3-1, to Reach LEC Men’s Soccer Final

11/4/2026 2:27:43 PM

BOSTON – Second-seeded UMass Boston scored twice in the opening 13 minutes and added a second-half penalty kick to defeat third-seeded Rhode Island College, 3-1, in the semifinals of the Little East Conference (LEC) Men’s Soccer Championship on Wednesday. John Arruda assisted on both early goals, and Eduardo Chirico finished with a goal and an assist.

The Records
UMass Boston (9-5-1, 5-2-1 Little East)
Rhode Island College (7-6-6, 4-1-3 Little East)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Ryan Lima put UMass Boston ahead at 9:06 off assists from Arruda and Chirico. Just over three minutes later, Arruda set up Gabriel Jordao for what proved to be the game-winning goal, giving the Beacons a 2-0 lead at 12:15.

Rhode Island College goalkeeper Elhadji Ndoye stopped shots from Pedro Moraes and Jesus Guarcas less than two minutes apart to keep the deficit at two. The Anchormen pulled one back at 39:41 when Moise Augustin scored off an assist from Marco Hoxholli, sending UMass Boston into halftime with a 2-1 lead.

Chirico restored the Beacons’ two-goal cushion when he converted a penalty kick at 53:09. Rhode Island College responded with two corner kicks in quick succession, but UMass Boston goalkeeper JJ Devine stopped shots from Donovan Battle and Donovan Calle to keep the score at 3-1. Devine made three of his four saves after halftime as the Beacons held the Anchormen scoreless in the second half.

Inside The Statistics

  • Arruda assisted on both first-half goals, while Chirico assisted on the opener and scored from the penalty spot.
  • Augustin scored Rhode Island College’s lone goal, and Battle led the Anchormen with three shots, two on goal.
  • Devine made four saves for UMass Boston, while Ndoye finished with two for Rhode Island College.
  • UMass Boston held a 13-8 advantage in shots and a 7-4 edge in corner kicks. Both teams put five shots on goal.

Up Next

UMass Boston advances to the LEC championship match on Saturday, Nov. 7, and will face the winner of the semifinal between top-seeded WestConn and fourth-seeded Southern Maine. Rhode Island College finishes the season at 7-6-6.